Common Sonographic Patterns of Kidney Diseases in Nnewi North, Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract Introduction: Despite the increasing prevalence of kidney diseases in Nigeria, and the value of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of these diseases, there is a paucity of data on the sonographic patterns of kidney diseases peculiar to people in Nnewi North Anambra state, Nigeria.Objective: The objective of this study was to document the common sonographic patterns of kidney diseases in Nnewi-North, Anambra state, Nigeria and to correlate certain Ultrasound detectable kidney diseases of patients with age and sex.Methods: This study adopted a cross-sectional retrospective design. Secondary records from files, folders were retrieved from patient’s records from the Radiography departments of Waves diagnostic center and Nnamdi Azikiwe University teaching hospital both in Anambra State, Nigeria. A total of 400 patients were reviewed from the health institutions between April 2020 and April 2021. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: Common kidney diseases were: hydronephrosis [74(17.8%)], nephrolithiasis [69 (17.3%)], renal cyst [39(9.8)], urolithiasis [9(75%)], renal parenchyma disease grade I [27(6.8%)], renal parenchyma disease grade II [12(3.0%)], renal parenchyma disease grade III [12(3.0%)],renal parenchyma disease grade I-II [6(1.5%)], renal parenchyma disease grade II-III [1(0.3)], nephritis [6(1.5%)], ectopic kidney [3(0.8)], polycystic kidney disease[ 9(2.3%)], pyelonephritis [14(3.5%)], nephrocalcinosis [29(7.2%)]. It was found out that normal patients had the highest occurrence [81 (21.3%)], the most prevalent kidney disease was hydronephrosis [74(17.8%)] and the least prevalent was renal parenchyma disease grade II-III [1(0.3%)]. The prevalence of hydronephrosis was seen more in male patients [42 (59.2%)] than their female counterparts [29 (40.8%)]. The subjects between the ages of 37-52 years were more likely to develop hydronephrosis than other age groups and also there was no significant relationship between kidney diseases and age. It is therefore recommended that Ultrasound should be used as the first line of diagnosis in kidney pathologies and suspected flank pain, because of its availability, cheapness, improved safety profile, and level of diagnostic accuracy.Conclusion: Common sonographic patterns of kidney diseases were those of hydronephrosis, nephrolithiasis, and renal parenchyma diseases grade I-III predominantly among male subjects. Age and sex had no significant effect on sonographic patterns of kidney diseases.