Noninvasive diagnosis and follow-up of childhood renal vein thrombosis by ultrasound, Doppler, and renal scintiscan.

Childhood renal vein thrombosis (RVT) usually occurs in infants less than one year of age, and in recent years, more RVTs are diagnosed with the help of various diagnostic imaging modalities. RVT produces immediate physiologic, anatomic, and functional changes within the involved kidney or kidneys and these changes can be detected readily and noninvasively by Doppler ultrasound, ultrasound scan, and renal scintiscans. Childhood RVTs are associated with substantial morbidity, and the earlier the diagnosis and treatment, the better the prognosis. The most important factor in the diagnosis of childhood RVT is a high clinical index of suspicion. With a high degree of clinical suspicion, one can make the specific diagnosis of RVT using the noninvasive methods. Such methods can also be used for follow-up of patients with RVTs.