Hydronephrosis

Getting a diagnosis from your healthcare provider quickly is important because hydronephrosis can cause long-term kidney damage.

Your provider will diagnose hydronephrosis with:

• Physical examination: Your provider will ask you about any symptoms you’re having and examine the area near your kidneys and bladder for tenderness or swelling. They may ask about your medical history and your family’s medical history. People with a penis may need a rectal exam to determine whether their prostate is enlarged. People with a vagina might require a pelvic exam to evaluate whether there are any problems with their uterus or ovaries.
• Urine tests: Your healthcare provider will collect a sample of your pee and analyze it for blood, stone crystals, bacteria or infection. They may need to use a catheter to drain the pee.
• Blood tests: A complete blood count (CBC) may determine whether an infection is present. Tests of kidney function, including creatinine, estimated GFR (eGFR) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), may also occur.
• Imaging procedures: The main imaging test is ultrasound. A CT scan or MRI may be necessary.

A healthcare provider can detect hydronephrosis in a fetus as early as the first trimester on an ultrasound. It’s typically discovered during a 20-week ultrasound. A diagnosis at this time usually means the birth parent needs additional ultrasounds to monitor the fetus. However, most cases resolve on their own.