Hydronephrosis and Ureter Dilatation in a Sample of Iraqi Patients Diagnosed and Characterized using Ultrasound Examination

Aim of the study: is to make clear the role of ultrasound in diagnosis and characterization of hydronephrosis in a sample of Iraqi patients. Patients and methods: The present cross sectional study included 60 patients with ultrasound evidence of hydronephrosis selected from a cohort of patients referred from the unit of urology at Al-Hilla teaching hospital. Their age ranges from 21 up to 55 years and the sample included 40 women and 30 men. The study duration extended from 1^st of February 2018 to 15^th of July 2018. The ultrasonic renal exam did not require any preparation of the patient and was performed with the patient in the supine position. The kidneys were examined in longitudinal and transverse scan planes with the transducer placed in the fanks. A curved array transducer with center frequencies of 3–6 MHz was used. Following ultrasound examination, the major cause of hydronephrosis was pregnancy induced expansion of renal pelvis followed by ureteric stone, infammatory stricture and benign prostatic hyperplasia. The single patient with benign prostatic hyperplasia was 55.