Kidneys are 10~12cm long, 5~6cm wide and 3~4cm thick in the imaging examination, and the left kidney is generally larger than the right kidney. In the elderly, the kidneys may shrink slightly due to the decline of the body, if it is significantly lower than this range and combined with the abnormalities of renal function tests, it is basically certain that the kidneys are atrophic.
Kidney is an important metabolic organ of the human body, which can help the body to metabolize wastes and excrete excess water. With the aging of old age and cellular senescence, the kidneys will shrink slightly, but generally there will be no discomfort and impaired renal function, which is a physiological shrinkage.
If the renal unit is damaged due to various renal diseases, it will cause the kidney to shrink significantly in size, which is usually accompanied by uncomfortable symptoms, such as hematuria, nausea, fatigue, anemia and so on. At this time, it can be diagnosed as renal atrophy.
Elderly people with renal atrophy are advised to consult regular hospitals in time, improve relevant examinations, clarify the causes, and standardize the treatment.