Renal dysplasia: sonographic findings

In 38 pediatric patients (predominantly neonates) with a proved pathologic diagnosis of renal dysplasia, a variety of sonographic appearances were seen. When the obstruction was at the level of the ureteropelvic junction (12 patients, 12 kidneys), the typical appearance was of a large kidney containing multiple large or moderate-sized cysts. When the obstruction was at the level of the distal ureter (14 patients, 14 kidneys), a smaller kidney containing a few cysts of variable sizes was usually seen. When the obstruction was at the level of the urethra (eight patients, 13 kidneys), the kidney was typically small with few or no cysts. In four patients (seven kidneys) in whom no cause of the obstruction was evident, the kidneys were small and echogenic. There was one case of segmental dysplasia.