Ultrasonographic Study of Human Renal Volume and Its Correlation With Body Mass Index in a Tertiary Teaching Hospital.

Abstract

Kidney is a paired organ whose functions include removing waste products from the blood and regulating the amount of fluid in the body. The basic units of the kidneys are called nephrons.
 They are situated posteriorly behind the peritoneum on each side of the vertebral column and are surrounded by adipose tissue. Superiorly they are level with the upper border of the 12th thoracic vertebra, inferiorly with the third lumbar vertebra. The kidney continues to grow in size after birth and reaches the near adult size of 10 cm by 12 years of age. Renal size decreases with increasing age among patients older than 60 years. Decrease or increase in kidney size is an important sign of renal disease. Decrease or increase in kidney size is an important sign of renal disease. Since the change in renal length may be an evidence of disease, it is important that we have normal reference values in relation to their age, gender, height, weight and body mass index and body surface area.in the present study the ultrasonographic assessment of left and right renal volume in different age groups and its relationship with body mass index of individuals was observed.
 Keywords: ultrasonography, Renal volume, Body mass index