Estimation of glomerular size and number from radiographs of the kidney

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Abstract
In 32 adult human kidneys obtained at necropsy, renal dimensions, measured from radiographs, were correlated with the number and cross-sectional area of glomeruli, determined by point-counting and computerized image analysis. Cortical area, measured from post-mortem angiograms, was poorly correlated with glomerular area and was not significantly correlated with glomerular number per kidney. The area of the whole kidney was poorly correlated with the number of glomeruli per kidney and was not significantly correlated with glomerular area. Renal dimensions, particularly total renal area, were highly significantly correlated with the product of glomerular area and number. This may allow glomerular numbers to be estimated in life but will not assess loss of glomerular surface area due to hyalinization of glomeruli or change in their shape with age. As cortical dimensions declined in the aging kidney, the number of glomeruli per unit volume increased.