[Does sonographic kidney morphology and morphometry provide evidence of pediatric kidney function?].

Compared with conventional X-ray investigation, ultrasound examination has a variety of advantages in the evaluation of urinary tract disorders in infancy and childhood. It does not involve exposure to contrast medium and radiation; low costs, minimal stress to the young patients, high diagnostic accuracy and easy reproducibility are further benefits. Postoperative follow-up of obstructive disorders can be easily performed and the results quantified by means of ultrasound. Morphometric data correlate well with renal function. As urologists become more familiar with ultrasonic morphologic and morphometric data, X-ray examinations in childhood will be confined to a few specific indications.