The author evaluated kidneys in 85 children ranging in age from a 27-week premature infant to a child 10 years old to identify renal length and sonographic characteristics. Three categories of sonographic appearance were demonstrated, ranging from kidneys that were more dense than normal liver, with prominent pyramids and no sinus echoes, to kidneys that were less dense than normal liver, with less prominent pyramids and an echogenic sinus. Two growth patterns were also identified, demonstrating a rapid growth before 40 weeks (term age) and a slower change in renal length after 40 weeks.
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