A simple method to estimate renal volume from computed tomography

Authors

  • Rodney H. Breau Ottawa Hospital Research Institute; and Division of Urology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa ON, Canada
  • Edward Clark Ottawa Hospital Research Institute; and Division of Nephrology, University of Ottawa ON, Canada
  • Bryan Bruner Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN, USA
  • Patrick Cervini Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN, USA
  • Thomas Atwell Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN, USA
  • Greg Knoll Ottawa Hospital Research Institute; and Division of Nephrology, University of Ottawa ON, Canada
  • Bradley C. Leibovich Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.1338

Keywords:

Organ size, Computed tomography, Kidney

Abstract

Introduction: Renal parenchymal volume can be used clinically to estimate differential renal function. Unfortunately, conventional methods to determine renal volume from computed tomography (CT) are time-consuming or difficult due to software limitations. We evaluated the accuracy of simple renal measurements to estimate renal volume as compared with estimates made using specialized CT volumetric software.

Methods: We reviewed 28 patients with contrast-enhanced abdominal CT. Using a standardized technique, one urologist and one urology resident independently measured renal length, lateral diameter and anterior-posterior diameter. Using the ellipsoid method, the products of the linear measurements were compared to 3D volume measurements made by a radiologist using specialized volumetric software.

Results: Linear kidney measurements were highly consistent between the urologist and the urology resident (intraclass correlation coefficients: 0.97 for length, 0.96 for lateral diameter, and 0.90 for anterior-posterior diameter). Average renal volume was 170 (SD: 36) cm3 using the ellipsoid method compared with 186 (SD37) cm3 using volumetric software, for a mean absolute bias of -15.2 (SD 15.0) cm3 and a relative volume bias of -8.2% (p < 0.001). Thirty-one of 56 (55.3%) estimated volumes were within 10% of the 3D measured volume and 54 of 56 (96.4%) were within 30%.

Conclusion: Renal volume can be easily approximated from contrast-enhanced CT scans using the ellipsoid method. These findings may obviate the need for 3D volumetric software analysis in certain cases. Prospective validation is warranted.

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Published

2013-06-12

How to Cite

Breau, R. H., Clark, E., Bruner, B., Cervini, P., Atwell, T., Knoll, G., & Leibovich, B. C. (2013). A simple method to estimate renal volume from computed tomography. Canadian Urological Association Journal, 7(5-6), 189–92. https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.1338

Issue

Section

Original Research