Value of ultrasound in the treatment of solitary kidneys in infancy and childhood.

Every second patient with a solitary kidney suffers from renal disease. This accumulation of renal diseases of varying origin makes special care for these children necessary. The quality of diagnostic methods is decisive for the choice of therapy. The advantages of primary ultrasound diagnosis and sonographical function tests are described. Sonographical differentiation of disturbances of the urinary transport is possible by means of forced-diuresis ultrasonography, whereas a vesico-ureteral reflux can be detected by means of voiding sonocystography. The value of ultrasound for primary diagnosis, assessment of therapeutic course and postoperative long-term follow-up is discussed.