Are renal volumes measured by magnetic resonance imaging and three-dimensional ultrasound in the term neonate comparable?

Renal volume, but not renal length, has been shown to be positively correlated with renal function. Three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are two modalities used to assess renal volume. The aim of our study was to determine whether 3D ultrasound measurements of renal volume in the neonate are comparable to those of MRI measurements. Preterm and term neonates had an MRI and 3D ultrasound to determine renal volume at the same time as they had an MRI brain scan for other clinical conditions. The preterm neonates were all term corrected age, and the term neonates were 1–4 weeks of age. None of the kidneys examined were abnormal. There were no significant differences in the weight or length of the preterm and term infants at the time of their MRI scan. The left renal length was significantly longer according to MRI measurements than according to 3D ultrasound measurements (p = 0.02). Renal volumes of both the left and right kidney were greater when measured by MRI than by 3D ultrasound (p < 0.0001, respectively). Total volumes of the kidneys were greater when measured by MRI than by 3D ultrasound (p = 0.008). Renal volume in neonates was significantly less when evaluated by 3D ultrasound than by MRI. These results demonstrate that MRI and 3D ultrasound renal volumes are not comparable in the neonatal population and, therefore, the same radiological modality should be used if repeat volume measurements are to be performed.