Also called a urinary tract or kidney scan, renal sonography is used to investigate a variety of conditions affecting the urinary system. These include kidney stones, urinary tract infections, injury to the kidneys or bladder, diagnosing congenital abnormalities of the urinary tracts and identifying problems related to the prostate gland in men.

You will usually need a full bladder and will be advised on how much water to drink and how long before the examination. At the scan, you will lie on your back on an examination couch and the transducer moved back and forth across the side of your abdomen to image the area of interest. You may be asked to turn onto your side in order to obtain the best images.

Finally, your bladder volume may be measured usually after urinating but sometimes even before you go to the toilet to assist in detecting any problems.