Ultrasound Investigation of Suspected Renal Artery Stenosis

Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is an important and potentially reversible cause of both hypertension and renal failure. Ultrasound offers an attractive, non-invasive, method to examine the renal arteries and confirm or exclude the presence of RAS. This article will describe the techniques and diagnostic criteria employed in the ultrasound diagnosis of this condition and will also evaluate the usefulness of ultrasound in comparison with other non-invasive imaging techniques.