Ultrasound imaging techniques are an indispensable complement to physical examination, which is often frustrating, if not useless, for diagnosing kidney problems. The application of ultrasound techniques in clinical routine helps clinicians to rule out, at first glance, some serious pathological conditions and to concentrate on the accurate diagnosis of the patient. Moreover, sonography can extend the spectrum of diagnostic criteria in acute kidney diseases. It makes it possible to determine morphological parameters without potentially toxic contrast media while exploring functional aspects with contrast enhanced or Doppler ultrasound techniques. This publication meets a growing demand for current information among physicians and nurses in the field. With a focus on the daily practice of diagnosing kidney disease, it is an important resource for both beginner and advanced users of ultrasound imaging techniques.

Ultrasound imaging techniques today represent a complementary yet indispensable tool in the process of diagnosis and care of kidney disease. Ultrasound machines are available in most departments of intensive care and nephrology, and their use has become a routine for clinicians directly involved in patient care rather than being procedures reserved only to experienced radiologists. The socalled ‘Visual Medicine’ is becoming part of the core curriculum of several disciplines and nephrology is one of the most advanced fields in this endeavor. The evolution of ultrasound equipment into smaller and flexible devices, has further contributed to the expansion of application of sonography in the process of diagnosis. The growing demand for education and training in this area has prompted us to develop this volume, timely published by Karger, in the book series ‘Contributions to Nephrology’.

Contents

۱. Pathophysiology and Clinical Work-Up of Acute Kidney Injury
۲. Ultrasound in Acute Kidney Disease
۳. Clinical Scenarios in Acute Kidney Injury: Pre-Renal Acute Kidney Injury
۴. Clinical Scenarios in Acute Kidney Injury: Hepatorenal Syndrome
۵. Clinical Scenarios in Acute Kidney Injury: Parenchymal Acute Kidney Injury-Tubulo-Interstitial Diseases
۶. Clinical Scenarios in Acute Kidney Injury-Parenchymal Acute Kidney Injury – Vascular Diseases
۷. Clinical Scenarios in Acute Kidney Injury: Post-Renal Acute Kidney Injury
۸. Imaging in Chronic Kidney Disease
۹. Clinical Scenarios in Chronic Kidney Disease: Vascular Chronic Diseases
۱۰. Clinical Scenarios in Chronic Kidney Disease: Parenchymal Chronic Renal Diseases – Part 1
۱۱. Clinical Scenarios in Chronic Kidney Disease: Parenchymal Chronic Renal Diseases – Part 2
۱۲. Clinical Scenarios in Chronic Kidney Disease: Chronic Tubulointerstitial Diseases
۱۳. Clinical Scenarios in Chronic Kidney Disease: Cystic Renal Diseases
۱۴. Clinical Scenarios in Chronic Kidney Disease: Kidneys’ Structural Changes in End-Stage Renal Disease