Certified Dialysis Nurse Practice Test

In chronic renal failure, a key finding on renal ultrasound is typically smaller than normal kidneys. This occurs due to the progressive loss of nephron function and overall renal mass over time. As chronic kidney disease advances, the kidneys undergo structural changes, including fibrosis and atrophy, which result in a reduction in size. This is important for identifying the stage of renal disease and assessing the potential for recovery or the need for interventions such as dialysis or transplantation.

While other findings might also be present in the ultrasound assessment, such as echogenicity changes indicative of disease, the size of the kidneys – specifically the reduced size in chronic renal failure – is a hallmark characteristic that is critical for diagnosis. It helps differentiate chronic renal failure from acute renal issues where kidney size may remain normal or appear larger due to swelling or other factors.