Radiologic evaluation of the size of normal kidney as related to vertebral height and its movability in Korean adults

Eun, C K; Kim, K S; Lee, S W; Park, S S; Yim, O S

Abstract

The kidney size and its movability on the change of position from supine to erect by radiographic measurementprovide an important value in the diagnosis and treatment of the renal disease. The length of the kidney, theratio between the kidney length and the total height of the upper three lumbar vertebrae including intervertebraldisc, the movable range of kidney in change of position from recumbent to erect and the distance from the lefthilum to the right hilum were measured on intravenous pyelograms of 87 males and 97 females of the age of 20 to 59years. The following results were obtained: 1. The radiographic measurement of kidney size and its movable range:sex age right kidney lt. kidney hilum (cm) length(cm) M(cm) K(ratio) length(cm) M(cm) K(ratio) male 20-59 12.4+0.76 2.8+1.57 1.08+0.07 12.7+0.84 2.7+1.46 1.12+0.08 1.3+1.37 female 20-59 12.0+0.98 3.5+1.52 1.13+0.1012.4+0.97 3.0+1.45 1.16+0.10 1.1+1.24 (M: The mean of the movable range of kidney in change of position from supineto erect) (K: The ratio between the length of kidney and the total height of the upper three lumbar vertebraeincluding disc) 2. The size of kidney in male and the right kidney was smaller than in female and the left one,and mean difference was 0.3-0.4cm But the right kidney was larger in 25% of the cases than the left one. 3. Thelength of kidney was larger in 90% of the cases than the total height of the upper three lumbar vertebraeincluding disc. 4. The motion range of kidney in the change of position from supine to erect was 0-8.2cm and themoving distance of the kidney in the right side and female was a little greater than that in the left kidney andmale. 5. In 3% of the cases the kidney moved more than 6cm in change of position from supine to erect. 6. Theright hilum was usually lower in position than the left one. However, in 24 cases (13%) the right hilum wasobserved to be higher than the left one.