Value of prior imaging review before ordering renal sonography in the evaluation of abnormal renal function.

BACKGROUND: To determine the prognostic relevance of prior imaging studies in the evaluation of patients referred for renal ultrasound (US) examination to investigate abnormal renal function tests.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 208 consecutive renal US examinations performed for abnormal renal function tests.

RESULTS: 68% (142/208) of patients reviewed for the study had prior abdominal imaging with 15% (21/142) receiving that imaging within 1 month prior to the renal US study and 56% (80/142) within the prior year. Of all patients with prior imaging studies, only 6/142 (4%) demonstrated any significant interval change, with development of hydronephrosis, which was also clinically evident as a substantial rise in serum creatinine level.

CONCLUSIONS: Review of prior imaging studies, in addition to other pertinent clinical data, should result in a significant reduction in the number of unnecessary renal US examinations performed in patients with abnormal renal function. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 45:537-541, 2017.