Routine High Dose Excretory Urography

Radiologic evaluation of 316 excretory urograms utilizing a single 50 ml injection of a 50 to 60 per cent tri-iodinated contrast medium indicated that these studies are of better quality than those previously obtained with the injection of 30 ml. The low incidence of side effects coincides with recent reports in the literature that this dosage level is safe. High dose intravenous drip infusion pyelography was necessary only in selected cases. High dose excretory urography is recommended for routine use.     

Capacities of examination of renal function at excretory urography

The study was undertaken to enhance the diagnostic capacities of excretory urography in evaluating renal function, by determining the renal clearance of a contrast medium. The main task of the study was to develop bloodless and rather reliable ways of estimating the volume of the body's distributed contrast medium and its urinary concentration in the patient at urography. Excretory urography was performed in 248 patients aged 12 to 75 years. The specific gravity of excreted urine was determined with a standard laboratory urometer to 0.001 g/cm3. Absoption spectrophotometry was used to determine the serum concentration of contrast medium in 67 patients. The values of concentrations were plotted in the semilogarithmic ordinate system, followed by extrapolation of the initial segment of the plot to the so-called zero point determining the value of the concentration of contrast medium at the moment of its complete distribution in the intercellular space. The derived value was compared with the medium's dose coming into the body, which made it possible to determine the degree of dilution of the substance, i.e. the volume of its distribution in the organism. There was a linear relationship between the concentrations of renally eliminated contrast medium and the specific gravity of excreted urine. The numerical value of the constant reflecting this relationship is equal to 6. There was evidence for that such studies could be made by routine urometry. A high correlation was found between the body mass and the volume of distribution of contrast medium in the intercellular space. The discovery of the above regularities permitted the procedure for measuring the values of two most important physiological renal process (glomerular filtration and trabecular water reabsorption) to be simplified and widely available. The paper outlines the great promises for using excretory urography as a scanning functional test during a primary study and a follow-up of the patient's status.     

Echography of the kidney and its calyceal-pelvic complex in comparison with the anatomic and roentgenographic data

Anatomical and echographic data have been compared in 35 mature human kidneys. Ultrasound anatomy of the kidney has been verified. It has been stated that the central part of the renal echogram is occupied by the zone of intensive echosignals, that corresponds not to the calyceal complex, as it had been considered previously, but to the renal sinus. The renal sinus filled with fatty tissue and small arterial and venous vessels, their diameter is below the resolving power of the ultrasound device, is visualized as fused intensive echosignals of an elongated form, when the renal scanning is longitudinal, and as oval or round -- when the scanning is transversal. The calyceal-pelvic complex, filled with liquor, is presented as an anechogenic branching structure, situating within the zone of an increased echogeneity. The echographic picture of the calyceal-pelvic complex is always fragmentary: as small anechogenic areas in the hyperechogenic zone mentioned (the small pelvic calyces), or an excentrically situated anechogenic zone near the hilus renalis (the renal pelvis). In order to make the echographic investigations more accurate, it is necessary to follow certain methodical requirements, anatomical comparisons including.     

Renal imaging: a comparison of radionuclide,ultrasound, and computed tomographic scanning in investigation of renal space-occupying lesions.

Two studies were carried out in which 27 and 23 patients respectively with renal space-occupying lesions were assessed by different techniques and the results compared. Instead of proceeding to renal arteriography after the lesion had been found on urography, radionuclide and ultrasound scanning were used in the first study to clarify the nature of the lesions, while in the second study computed tomography was used as well. Results were good with all three methods, although ultrasonography and radionuclide scanning cannot resolve lesions of under 2 cm in diameter and the radiation dose with computed tomography is similar to that used in renal arteriography. Probably the best method of evaluating renal space-occupying lesions after urography is to use both ultrasound and radionuclide scanning. If further information is required computed tomography or arteriography is indicated.     

Changes in renal tumor contrasting in multiphasic SCT

Changes in renal tumor contrast and renal parenchyma-tumor density gradient were determined at multiphasic spiral computed tomography (SCT). A hundred and seven patients with renal tumors underwent SCT in the native phase and after bolus intravenous contrasting in the corticomedullary, nephrographic, and early excretory phases of the study. According to the level of contrast-enhancement in the corticomedullary phase, the neoplasms were divided into three groups: intensive, moderate, and low contrasting. Intensively and moderately contrast-enhancement tumors showed the maximal contrast in the corticomedullary phase of the study with a significant reduction in density values in the nephrographic and early excretory phases. Lowly contrast-enhancement tumors generally demonstrated a slow gradual increase in their contrast from the native phase to the corticomedullary and nephrographic ones with their minimum contrast changes between the nephrographic and early excretory phases. In this group of patients, the difference was frequently insignificant between the neoplasmic density values in the native and corticomedullary phases in this group of patients, so it is expedient to use a combination of native and nephrographic or native and early excretory phases to make a differential diagnosis of hypovascular tumors and renal cysts. The maximum intact renal parenchyma-tumor density gradient was detectable in the nephrographic phase therefore this study phase is of the greatest information value in detecting renal tumors.     

Bladder Tumor Diagnosis—Improved Excretory Cystograms

The correct precystoscopic diagnosis of bladder tumor was made in 20 of 23 patients with this disease, among more than 1,000 persons studied by double-dose excretory urography. There was no increase in the incidence of untoward effects. Double-dose excretory urography with delayed bladder films is recommended as the primary urographic procedure in all patients with gross or microscopic hematuria in whom bladder tumor is suspected.     

Urographic Changes in Acute Papillary Necrosis in the Rat

Intravenous high-dosage urography was performed in rats which had renal papillary necrosis induced with ethyleneimine or renal tubular necrosis produced with mercuric chloride. In both groups, nephrograms were abnormally persistent. In animals treated with ethyleneimine dense selective opacification of the necrotic renal pyramid occurred. It is suggested that this selective opacification may be a valuable radiological sign of recent renal papillary necrosis.     

Molecular analysis of the chromosome 11p region in renal cell carcinomas.

Comparative histological data suggest that papillary renal cell tumors in adults and Wilms' tumors in children develop from maturation-arrested cells of similar origin. Wilms' tumor is characterized by genetic changes at the chromosome 11p region. In the present study, we have analyzed 10 papillary and 10 non-papillary renal cell tumors and determined the allelic status of 6 loci on the short arm of chromosome 11. Only one papillary renal cell carcinoma among the 20 tumors showed a loss of constitutional heterozygosity for the chromosome 11p region. These data suggest that separate molecular events occur in the development of Wilms' tumor and papillary renal cell tumors, subsequent to the proliferation of maturation-arrested cells of the kidney.     

Diagnosis of bladder cancer at 465 MHz

Current methods for bladder cancer investigation involve cystoscopy, ultrasound scanning, and contrast urography, with additional information provided by cytology. These methods, although having a high detection rate, are expensive, time-consuming, invasive, and uncomfortable. Therefore, there is a need for an inexpensive, non invasive, quick, and simple investigation with a high sensitivity and specificity. In this study we evaluate the use of an in vivo electromagnetic (EM) interaction as a non invasive method for detecting cancer. A clinical trial was designed and completed. The main trial target was the feasibility assessment of the novel method by comparing its results with standard cystoscopy. A physical discussion of the EM interaction with bladder cancer tissue is presented. One hundred and fourteen patients referred for cystoscopy by microscopic or gross haematuria, irritative voiding symptoms, or suspected bladder tumor at ultrasound were first submitted to EM scan by means of the TRIMprob system. Cystoscopy was performed on each patient after the TRIMprob examination. Comparison between EM and cystoscopy results provides a high level of agreement (Cohen's K = 0.77, p < 0.001). The TRIMprob performance in malignant cancer cells detection suggests that this in vivo EM waves method is also worth investigating for routine diagnostic procedures.     

Antenatal ultrasonography to detect fetal renal abnormalities: a prospective screening programme.

OBJECTIVE--To evaluate screening for abnormalities of the fetal renal tract by ultrasonography and to determine the incidence of such abnormalities in a population. DESIGN--A 12 month prospective population study. Follow up of infants to between 9 and 18 months. SETTING--A district general hospital. PARTICIPANTS--6292 Pregnant women reaching 28 weeks'' gestation within the study period. INTERVENTIONS--Antenatal ultrasound scanning was offered to all of the women. Babies in whom an abnormality of the renal tract had been detected antenatally underwent ultrasound scanning at the end of the first week. If the abnormality was confirmed contrast radiography was performed. END POINT--Confirmation of suspected renal abnormality by postnatal investigations. Detection of abnormality in children thought to be normal antenatally. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS--Of the 92 babies who had abnormal antenatal scans, 42 had abnormalities confirmed postnatally. Four of them died and 21 had had or were awaiting an operation at 18 months'' follow up. Seven children had renal abnormalities that were missed antenatally. The incidence of abnormalities detected by screening antenatally was 0.65%, and the overall incidence at 18 months'' follow up was 0.76%. CONCLUSIONS--The incidence of structural renal abnormalities in babies is higher than reported previously. Antenatal ultrasonography is an effective way of detecting such abnormalities.     

Current radiation diagnosis of pyelonephritis

The paper deals with the current diagnosis of nonspecific and specific (tuberculosis) acute and chronic pyelonephritis. Having rather ample materials (308 patients with different forms of acute and chronic pyelonephritis), the authors compared different introscopic techniques (plain X-ray study, excretory urography, retrograde pyelography, ultrasonography, computed tomography and angiography) used in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with pyelonephritis. Based on their own findings and on the data available in the literature, the authors described the symptomatology of pyelonephritis in detail by using a great variety of diagnostic techniques. The paper shows the place and potentialities of conventional X-ray in a variety of current diagnostic studies and the potentialities of imaging techniques in recognizing pyelonephritis, assessing their extent and the reserve potentialities of the diseased kidney. The authors show that the rational use of routine and current radiographic techniques is of great diagnostic and prognostic value, enhances the efficiency of therapy for pyelonephritis, shortens treatment periods, reduces the number of radical nephrectomies by using organ-sparing operations more widely, and decreases mortality rates.     

Role of modern radiological investigations in obstructive uropathy.

Obstructive uropathy in its various forms accounts for much of the work load in urological units and general hospitals. Until recently, laboratory tests and excretion urography were the only procedures available for its assessment. The past few years have seen the development and refinement of ultrasound, examination by computer tomography, nuclear medicine, antegrade pyelography, and perfusion pressure flow studies. This paper examines the particular qualities of these modern procedures and their role in the clinical assessment of the obstructed urinary tract.     

Principles in the X-ray diagnosis of early stages of renal failure

The study was undertaken to impart better functional capacities to a urographic study and to convert its results to quantitative characteristics in order to realize its new capacities, namely, to detect early and latent renal functions. Three hundred and fifty-eight patients (165 males and 193 females) aged 3 to 74 years underwent excretory urography using the contrast agent Urografin. In 173 patients, X-ray planimetry determined the index of the renal parenchymatous area and estimated its size in relation to the individual normal value, i.e. the area of the body of the first lumbar vertebra. During urographic studies, 185 patients had a X-ray functional test that was used to determine the glomerular filtration by X-ray contrast agent clearance. A high correlation was established between the area of the parenchyma of the unaffected kidney and the X-ray planimetric area of the body of the first lumbar vertebra (a ratio of 3:1), which offered possibilities of estimating the normal value of parenchymatous tissue for each specific person. A procedure was developed to determine the individual normal glomerular filtration rate by contrast agent clearance. There was evidence for the fact that there was a close relationship of the anatomic parameters of the normal kidneys to their functional ones, which suggests that the filtrability of the glomerular apparatus corresponds to the mass of the intact parenchyma. This has allowed the authors to discover a basic principle of the X-ray diagnosis of renal failure, which consists in recording the parenchymatous tissue size-filtrability imbalance occurring in this condition; this fact may suggest the death of acting nephrons or a temporary reduction in their physiological potential.     

Complex radiation diagnosis of nephroptosis in children

This paper analyzes a comprehensive study of 45 children treated at the Unit of Urology, Children's Republican Clinical Hospital One, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. Twenty children operated on for second- and third-degree nephroptosis made up an individual group. Clinical, laboratory, and radiation studies were performed 8-25 years after surgical treatment, by using radiation diagnostic techniques, such as excretory urography, ultrasonography, dynamic scintigraphy, aortography, Doppler color mapping ultrasonography. The authors have analyzed the capacities of complex radiation diagnosis of orthostatic renal dysfunctions in children with nephroptosis and the long-term results of nephropexy.     

Echotomography and excretory urography in the diagnosis of renal parenchymal "bridges"]

Sonographically detectable parenchymal 'bridges' in the median segment of the kidney may look atypical. The most incident parenchymal 'bridges' are asymmetric irregular ovoid incomplete connections, not reaching the parenchyma at the site of renal hilus; such 'bridges' may be compared to a 'humpbacked' overturned kidney. Besides that, double and Y-shaped connections were detected, occurring in different variants of fused kidneys. Clinical significance of atypical 'bridges' of the parenchyma consists in simulation by them of echomixed processes, of renal tumors first of all. Excretory urography should be the second stage of the diagnosis after initial ultrasonic examination of the kidneys; after it repeated pointed ultrasonography should be carried out, that will help rule out the diagnosis of a renal tumor.     

泌尿系造影联合彩色多普勒对小儿先天性肾积水的诊断价值评估

摘要 目的：探讨泌尿系造影联合彩色多普勒对小儿先天性肾积水的诊断价值。方法：选取2018年11月～2021年11月在本院治疗的88例先天性肾积水患儿为研究对象,所有患儿均完善静脉肾盂造影及彩色多普勒超声检查,以病理诊断结果为金标准,对比两种检查方法对小儿先天性肾积水的诊断价值。结果：彩色多普勒超声检查结果显示,肾积水轻度、中度、重度患儿分别为10例、39例、39例,不同病情程度患儿比较,重度组收缩期峰值速度（PSV）、舒张期最小流速（EDV）均低于中度组和轻度组,重度组血流阻力指数（RI）高于中度组和轻度组（P<0.05）,但轻度组与中度组PSV、EDV、RI比较差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。与病理学诊断检查结果对比,彩色多普勒超声对中度、重度先天性肾积水患儿具有较高的诊断效能,其准确度分别为90.91%、93.18%,与病理诊断kappa值分别为0.795、0.862,具有较高的一致性;但对轻度肾积水诊断效能较低,kappa值为0.629,一致性一般。静脉肾盂造影对轻度先天性肾积水患儿具有较高的诊断效能,准确度为96.59%,与病理诊断kappa值为0.824,具有较高的一致性;但对中度、重度肾积水诊断效能较低,kappa值分别为0.583、0.565,一致性一般。彩色多普勒超声联合静脉肾盂造影诊断准确率高达94.32%,明显高于两检查方法单独应用（P<0.05）。结论：不同病情程度的先天性肾积水患儿具有不同超声征象,彩色多普勒超声对中、重度肾积水患儿具有较好的诊断价值,而静脉肾盂造影诊断轻度肾积水患儿的效能较好,将二者联合可提高对先天性肾积水的诊断准确率。     

Ultrasonography compared with intravenous urography in investigation of urinary tract infection in adults.

OBJECTIVE--To compare ultrasonography with intravenous urography for investigating adults with proved urinary tract infection. DESIGN--Prospective study of patients presenting consecutively for radiological investigation of urinary tract infection between October 1988 and December 1989. Both investigations were performed concurrently and performed independently on routine lists by different duty radiologists, each of whom knew the details on the request form but not the findings of the other investigation. SETTING--Radiology department of a teaching hospital. PATIENTS--158 Consecutive adults (89 women, 69 men; mean age 49.7 (range 18-83)) referred from general practitioners and hospital outpatient clinics with a history of proved urinary tract infection. INTERVENTIONS--Urography and ultrasonography performed concurrently. When both examinations gave normal findings no clinical or radiological follow up was sought. All abnormal findings detected with either investigation were confirmed by subsequent imaging studies or by operative procedures. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Accuracy of detection of abnormalities of urinary system by ultrasonography compared with urography. RESULTS--113 Patients (72%) had normal urographic and ultrasonic findings. Overall, ultrasonography concurred with the findings of urography in 149 (94%) patients, and when a single abdominal radiograph was included in the procedure, in 152 (96%). Ultrasonography missed only one important diagnosis, that of mild papillary necrosis in normal sized kidneys in a diabetic patient. It detected one early bladder tumour not visible on urography and was able to clarify the nature of renal masses (simple cysts) evident on three urograms. CONCLUSION--Ultrasonography provides a safe and accurate method of imaging the urinary tract in adults with infection. Combined with a plain abdominal radiograph, it should replace urography as the initial imaging investigation in these patients. Major savings would result from adopting this policy, and the risks to patients from ionising radiation and intravenous contrast media would be appreciably reduced.     

Current imaging of childhood urinary infections: prospective survey.

OBJECTIVES--To assess whether ultrasonography alone is adequate for routine screening of childhood urinary infection, whether clinical features determine the need for further investigations, and which investigations are most appropriate. DESIGN--Prospective survey of children with proved urinary infection and a preinvestigation record of clinical features. Ultrasonography and intravenous urography were routine, with choice of further studies determined by ultrasonographic findings. SETTING--A children''s hospital and two district general hospitals in Mersey region. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography both generally and in relation to clinical features. Accuracy of intravenous urography compared with radioisotope examinations. RESULTS--Specificity of ultrasonography was good (99% (95% confidence interval 96% to 100%)) but sensitivity modest (43% (32% to 55%)), principally with respect to detecting vesicoureteric reflux and renal scarring. Among older children (aged 2-10 years) with positive ultrasound results and fever or vomiting the sensitivity in detecting reflux (with and without renal scarring) was 78% (62% to 89%) and the specificity 69% (60% to 78%); in detecting renal scarring (with and without reflux) the sensitivity was 100% (80% to 100%) and specificity 65% (56% to 74%). Renal scarring and obstructive uropathies were better assessed by radioisotope examinations than by intravenous urography. CONCLUSIONS--Ultrasonography alone is inadequate for routine screening of childhood urinary infection. Though further investigations remain advisable in infants, in older children they can be restricted to a minority who have positive ultrasound examinations or have had fever or vomiting. Radioisotope examinations largely eliminate the need for intravenous urography.     

Meta-analysis of increases in micronuclei in peripheral blood lymphocytes after angiography or excretory urography

Norman, A., Cochran, S. T. and Sayre, J. W. Meta-analysis of Increases in Micronuclei in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes after Angiography or Excretory Urography. Radiat. Res. 155, 740-743 (2001). Meta-analysis of 10 studies confirms a significant increase in the frequency of micronuclei in peripheral blood lymphocytes after angiography or excretory urography; the weighted average increase is 4.2 (95% confidence interval 2.8-5.6) per 1000 binucleate lymphocytes, about the same increase in micronuclei as that produced in vitro by a diagnostic X-ray dose of 4 cGy. The analysis failed to reveal a significant effect of the specific contrast medium used in the X-ray examinations on the increased frequency of micronuclei. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the effect of the contrast media is limited to the enhancement, by the photoelectric effect, of the X-ray dose absorbed by the lymphocytes irradiated while suspended in the contrast medium. Therefore, an estimate of increased cancer risk based on elevated frequencies of micronuclei or chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes may be greatly exaggerated whenever the radiation damage is largely confined to the cells circulating in the blood, as it is in people who have recently had X-ray examinations that use intravenous injections of contrast medium. Such examinations include angiography, excretory urography and CT scans, which are received annually by millions of people.     

Henoch-Schönlein purpura complicated by appendicitis, intussusception and ureteritis

Henoch-Sch?nlein purpura (HSP) is the most common childhood systemic small-vessel vasculitis with skin, joint, gastrointestinal (GI) and renal involvement. Uncommon GI complications are intussusception, bowel perforation and rarely reported appendicitis. HSP-associated stenosing ureteritis represents a rare and potentially serious complication. We present a 5-year-old boy with severe and prolonged course of HSP and three very rare complications that occurred sequentially: appendicitis, intussusception and ureteritis. Only three days after admission, he developed clinical signs of acute appendicitis indicating surgical intervention. Histological analysis of excised appendix showed inflammation but without signs typical for vasculitis. Two weeks later, with the reccurence of HSP he again developed clinical picture of acute abdomen. Ultrasound and radiologic evaluation demonstrated ileo-ileal intussusception and the second laparotomy was undertaken. Histological analysis of the resected bowel tissue showed typical signs of leucocytoclastic vasculitis. In the fourth week of his illness, serial urinalysis showed nephritic urinary sediment indicative of renal involvement. Unexpectedly, control abdominal ultrasound demonstrated mild hydronephrosis of the left kidney, not seen on previous ultrasound evaluations. Undertaken excretory urography and computed tomography (CT) scan showed stenosis of upper/ midureter with mild dilation of upper part of the left ureter suggesting unilateral HSP-associated stenosing ureteritis. Eventually, the patient was discharged and closely followed-up for the next two years. He had no further reccurence of HSP, the urinalysis normalized after six months, while mild unilateral hydronephrosis remained unchanged. Our search of the literature did not show reports of HSP complicated by appendicitis, intussusception and ureteritis, and to our knowledge this is the first case with three different illness events that occured sequentially. We emphasize the necessity of repeated ultrasound evaluations in the course of HSR especially in cases with severe GI and renal invovement.