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Home >> Men's Health >> Kidney Problems >> Diagnosis
 Kidney Problems - Diagnosis
Overview | Diagnosis | Treatment | FAQ
Kidney Infection
The doctor can determine if you have a kidney infection by examining your urine for bacteria and pus cells.
Kidney Stones
A urologist can examine your urine under a microscope to check for blood, crystals, and infection. X-rays can help locate a stone and determine its size. X-rays without dye (contrast) can determine if the stone is blocking a kidney. An ultrasound exam can sometimes determine size and location of a stone. At other times, more complex tests may need to be done.
Kidney Failure
The diagnosis of kidney failure is made by looking at certain lab results. The most commonly used are serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN).
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Acute kidney failure - This is sometimes a reversible condition.
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Chronic kidney failure - In chronic kidney failure, kidney function is lost over a period of months or years. You may not notice the damage until it has been done. Damage from chronic kidney failure in most cases is not reversible.
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End-stage kidney failure or renal disease - This means that the damage to the kidneys is severe enough that the kidneys are not working adequately. This is a permanent failure of the kidneys.
Kidney Cancer
Kidney masses are often detected by abdominal ultrasound or CT scan as an incidental finding while evaluating another condition or performing screening. The primary modality of diagnosis and staging is currently an abdominal CT or MRI scan with and without contrast.
One of the most prominent characteristics of Renal cell carcinoma is the tendency to invade its own venous supply. Therefore, the possibility of hematogenous metastasis is high even with relatively small tumors. The staging evaluation includes a chest X-ray, liver function tests, and in selected patients, a bone scan.
Hydronephrosis
Hydronephrosis may be asymptomatic or it may cause pain in the abdomen and/or flank (an area that is located in the back, laterally, beneath the rib cage). Asymptomatic hydronephrosis is usually detected incidentally when an imaging study is performed for another reason, such as unexplained abdominal pain. Symptoms generally occur when the obstruction occurs suddenly; for instance, when a stone gets lodged in the urinary tract, the resulting back pressure of urine can cause excruciating pain that is accompanied with nausea and vomiting. Furthermore, if the urine is infected, hydronephrosis may be associated with more severe symptoms such as fever and chills, which is a condition that requires immediate attention. In children, hydronephrosis may cause failure to thrive, vague abdominal pain or swelling, urinary tract infections, or a fever of unknown origin.
An imaging study such as renal ultrasound or an x-ray study such as a CAT scan or an IVP is usually ordered to further evaluate the cause of urinary symptoms. Additionally, a special study of the blood supply to the kidney, called a MRA (Magnetic Resonance Angiogram) may be ordered if there is concern that a ‘crossing vessel’ is compressing and obstructing the ureter at the level of the UPJ. Another imaging study, called a renal scan, measures the flow of a special type of solution through the kidney. Normally the solution flows through each kidney equally. If there is an obstruction, though, a renal scan can demonstrate the severity of obstruction and percentage of function contributed by each kidney.
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