Ultrasonographic assessment of the renal size using a kidney length to vertebral body length ratio in cats

Abstract

Ultrasonographic assessment of the renal size can provide useful clinical information, in combination with other ultrasonographic parameters. The aims of this study were to establish the agreement between the ultrasonographic and radiographic measurements of the kidneys (K) and vertebral bodies (L5 and L6), to establish an ultrasonographic measurement of kidney-to-vertebral body (L5 and L6) ratio to estimate the renal size in cats, and to assess the impact of age, body weight, sex, and gonadal status on the ultrasonographic measurements of the kidneys, vertebral bodies, and ratios. The vertebral bodies of L5 and L6 were chosen as they were easy to identify with ultrasonography (US) using the lumbosacral junction as a landmark, and they are not usually affected by vertebral anomalies. A total of 60 cats (19 intact males, 12 neutered males, 17 intact females, and 12 neutered females) were included in the study. The cats were divided into three age groups (<7 months, 7 months−7 years, and >7 years), two body weight categories (≤ 3.5 kg and >3.5 kg), and two sex and gonadal status groups (male and female, and intact and neutered, respectively). Measurements of the renal and vertebral body length were performed on the radiographic and ultrasonographic images. Two different ratios were obtained, namely, K/L5 and K/L6. There was no significant difference between the length of both kidneys and the length of the vertebral bodies of L5 and L6 on ultrasonographic or radiographic images. There was a good agreement between ultrasonographic and radiographic measurements of both kidneys and vertebral bodies. In conclusion, the kidney length to L6 length ratio obtained was 1.81 ± 0.20 (1.76–1.86), which was useful for evaluating the size of the feline kidney and was not influenced by the age, body weight, sex, or gonadal status.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Constipation and Bladder Contusion Hematuria Due to Trauma in a Cat

“…The long dimension of the left kidney is normal at 3.7 cm (Figure 12). This dimension is within the normal range (3.0-4.3 cm), as the sonograms that previous studies have reported (Dennis, 2010;Martinez et al, 2022;Penninck & d'Anjou, 2022). The result of ultrasonography of the right kidney showed a normal appearance of the capsule, cortex, and medulla.…”

“…The boundary between the cortex and medulla of the right kidney was clear, with no abnormalities. The long dimension of the right kidney was normal (3.4 cm) (Figure 13), and it is within the normal range (3.0-4.3 cm) (Dennis, 2010;Martinez et al, 2022;Penninck & d'Anjou, 2022). However, the ureteral diameter of the right kidney was 1.6 mm.…”

Struvite Crystal in a Male Persian Cat Suffered From Urolithiasis

“…Pada hasil X-ray tidak ada urolit pada kandung kemih dan ukuran ginjal normal yaitu 35,2 mm (nilai normal 30-45 mm, Martinez et al, 2022).…”