Hydronephrosis - Diagnosing hydronephrosis

Hydronephrosis is usually diagnosed using an ultrasound scan. Further tests may be needed to find out the cause of the condition.

An ultrasound scan uses sound waves to create a picture of the inside of your kidneys. If your kidneys are swollen, this should show up clearly.

Further tests

You may need a number of additional tests to help determine the cause of hydronephrosis. These may include:

• blood tests – which can be used to check for infection
• urine tests – which can be used to check for infection as well as traces of blood (if blood is found it could be caused by a kidney stone)
• intravenous urography – this is an X-ray of your kidneys that is taken after a special dye has been injected into your bloodstream; the dye highlights the flow of urine through your urinary tract, which can be useful for identifying any blockages
• computerised tomography (CT) scan – this is similar to an X-ray but uses multiple images and a computer to build up a three-dimensional picture of the inside of your body

Antenatal hydronephrosis

Hydronephrosis may be diagnosed in your baby during pregnancy, during a routine ultrasound scan.

Your baby will be monitored with ultrasound scans to check it is growing normally and the kidneys are not getting too large.