Diabetic nephropathy is a progressive kidney disease that develops in some patients with long-standing diabetes mellitus. It is one of the leading causes of end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis or kidney transplant. On ultrasound, early diabetic nephropathy may show kidneys that are normal or slightly enlarged, while advanced disease typically shows smaller kidneys with increased cortical echogenicity, meaning the kidney tissue appears brighter than normal, reflecting the fibrosis and scarring that has replaced healthy tissue. Renal ultrasound is used to monitor kidney size and appearance over time, assess for complications like hydronephrosis, and guide kidney biopsies when needed to confirm the diagnosis.
Sonography Term