A Comparison of Radiological Diagnosis Methods for Paediatric Hydronephrosis
Six ways to scan a child's kidneys, and a clear argument for which one should come first. This project compares ultrasound, MCUG, MAG3, DMSA, MRU and CT scans for diagnosing hydronephrosis in children, judging each not only on image quality but on what the child actually experiences: radiation dose, needles, catheters, sedation, whether a parent can stay in the room, and how long it all takes. Drawing on clinical guidance from Cambridge University Hospitals, Great Ormond Street, the FDA and international nuclear medicine standards, it concludes that ultrasound is the least invasive and non-radiating option and the right first-line choice. Sparked by the author's hospital work experience in Cork, where a radiologist walked him through a real hydronephrosis case.
