Ultrasonic renal volumetry in children: accuracy and simplicity of the method.

Renal length and volume were determined with B-mode ultrasonography and manual planimetry. The accuracy of the technique was prospectively evaluated in 11 children in whom concurrent sonograms and excretory urograms were obtained. Sonographic renal volume correlated better with urographic renal volume (r = 0.89) than did sonographic and urographic renal length (r = 0.78). The technique provides rapid, noninvasive measurement of renal length and volume, and can be used to follow renal growth patterns in children.