Length of Normal Kidneys in Thai Children: Multidetector CT Measurement

Abstract

Objective: To establish normal values of renal length in Thai children on multiplanar reconstructed images of multidetector CT. Materials and methods: Retrospective review of 372 abdominal CT studies of the children who did not have urinary tract symptoms or underlying kidney disorders at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital between January 2008 and September 2013 was performed. The children were between 1 year and 15 years old (mean age, 7.56 ± 4.06 years). Renal lengths were measured using reconstructed oblique sagittal reformat images of multidetector CT data by two observers on two occasions. Intraobserver and interobserver error for these measurements were calculated. The paired T-test was used for statistical analysis. Results: The mean (± SD) of the absolute value of interobserver error of CT measurements was 0.89 ± 0.76 mm. Nomogram of renal length in Thai children was developed. There is no statistical significance of renal length between Thai children as compared with the Western or Hong Kong children. When all age groups were pooled together, statistically significant differences were observed between right and left renal length (left kidneys were longer; P< 0.001). Conclusion: By use of renal measurement on abdominal CT studies, nomogram of age-based renal length of Thai children was established. Keywords: Multidetector computed tomography; kidney; child; nomograms