ROLE OF CT IN EVALUATION OF HYDRONEPHROSIS

Hydronephrosis (HN) means ―dilated or swollen‖ upper urinary tract (kidney). The word ―hydro‖ represents ―water‖ and ―nephro‖ represents ―kidney‖. It is not a true disease, but rather a descriptive term used to identify the amount of renal dilation from another disease or condition that may be present. HN can involve one or both kidneys. Normally urine flows out of the kidney with low pressure. If this flow pattern is disrupted by dilation of the kidney placing increasing pressure on the delicate internal structures of the central urine collecting system, damage can result through loss of function1