Sensitivity of sonography in pyonephrosis: a reevaluation

OFF sonographic features distinguishing randomly selected cases of simple hydronephrosis (34 patients) from pyonephrosis (16 patients) were reviewed in 50 patients. Fluid-fluid levels and coarse medium-intensity echoes within the renal collecting system were highly reliable findings for pyonephrosis in 10 patients. However, in six patients with proven pyonephrosis, the renal collecting system either was anechoic (four patients) or contained low-level echoes (two) that were difficult to distinguish from artifacts. Although the specificity for diagnosing pyonephrosis was 100%, the sensitivity was only 62%. Because of the consequences of misdiagnosis, sonographically guided diagnostic needle aspiration may still be required in patients with urosepsis and significant hydronephrosis.
CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. D. Craig, B. J. Wagner, and M. D. Travis From the Archives of the AFIP: Pyelonephritis: Radiologic-Pathologic Review RadioGraphics, January 1, 2008; 28(1): 255 - 276. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. B. Jeffrey Jr. and F. S. Vernacchia The Role of Sonography and CT in Urosepsis Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, May 1, 1986; 2(3): 141 - 144. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. R. Dierks, R. A. Clark, and H. B. Spitz Emphysematous Pyonephrosis Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, July 1, 1985; 1(4): 139 - 143. [Abstract] [PDF]