Skip to main content Skip to navigation

Renal Venogram – Indications, Procedures, Results

Last updated: February 8, 2026 Medically reviewed by: RxHarun Orthopedic Specialist Doctor Reading time: 10 min read

Venogram – renal; Venography; Venogram – kidney; Renal vein thrombosis – venogram

A renal venogram is a test to look at the veins in the kidney. It uses x-rays and a special dye (called contrast).

X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation like light, but of higher energy, so they can move through the body to form an image. Structures that are dense (such as bone) will appear white and air will be black. Other structures will be shades of gray.

Veins are not normally seen in an x-ray. That is why the special dye is needed. The dye highlights the veins so they show up better on x-rays.

How the Test is Performed

This test is done in a hospital. You will lie on an x-ray table. Local anesthetic is used to numb the area where the dye is injected. You may ask for a calming medicine (sedative) if you are anxious about the test.

The health care provider places a needle into a vein, most often in the groin but occasionally in the neck. Next, a flexible tube called a catheter (which is the width of the tip of a pen) is inserted into the groin and moved through the vein until it reaches the vein in the kidney. A blood sample may be taken from each kidney. The contrast dye flows through this tube. X-rays are taken as the dye moves through the kidney veins.

This procedure is monitored by fluoroscopy, a type of x-ray that creates images on a TV screen.

Once the images are taken, the catheter is removed and a bandage is placed over the wound.

How to Prepare for the Test

You will be told to avoid food and drinks for about 8 hours before the test. Your doctor may tell you to stop taking aspirin or other blood thinners before the test. DO NOT stop taking any medicine without first talking to your doctor.

You will be asked to wear hospital clothing and to sign a consent form for the procedure. You will need to remove any jewelry from the area that is being studied.

Tell the provider if you:

  • Are pregnant
  • Have allergies to any medicine, contrast dye, or iodine
  • Have a history of bleeding problems

How the Test will Feel

You will lie flat on the x-ray table. There is often a cushion but it is not as comfortable as a bed. You may feel a sting when the anesthesia medicine is given. You will not feel the dye. You may feel some pressure and discomfort as the catheter is positioned.

There may be mild tenderness and bruising at the site where the catheter was placed.

Why the Test is Performed

This test is not done very often anymore. It has largely been replaced by CT scan and MRI. In the past the test was used to measure levels of kidney hormones.

Rarely, the test may be used to detect blood clots , tumors , and vein problems. Its most common use today is as part of an exam to treat varicose veins of the testicles or ovaries.

Normal Results

There should not be any clots or tumors in the kidney vein. The dye should flow quickly through the vein and not back up to the testes or ovaries.

What Abnormal Results Mean

Abnormal results may be due to:

  • Blood clot that partially or completely blocks the vein
  • Kidney tumor
  • Vein problem

Risks

Risks from this test may include:

  • Allergic reaction to the contrast dye
  • Bleeding
  • Blood clots
  • Injury to a vein

There is low-level radiation exposure. However, most experts feel that the risk of most x-rays is smaller than other risks we take every day. Pregnant women and children are more sensitive to the risks of the x-ray.

FAQ

What is renal venography?

  • A renal venogram is an imaging test to look at the veins in and around your kidneys. Your healthcare provider may also use the test to find out what is causing your high blood pressure (hypertension).

How is RVT diagnosed?

  • Computed tomography (CT) angiography is the test of choice for diagnosing RVT which can demonstrate thrombus in the renal vein and, at times, in the vena cava. The sensitivity and specificity of CT angiography are almost 100%.

Can a blood test detect deep vein thrombosis?

  • It can detect blockages or blood clots in the deep veins. It is the standard imaging test to diagnose DVT. A D-dimer blood test measures a substance in the blood that is released when a clot breaks up. If the D-dimer test is negative, it means that the patient probably does not have a blood clot.

How do you diagnose renal vein thrombosis?

  • Computed tomography (CT) angiography is the test of choice for diagnosing RVT which can demonstrate thrombus in the renal vein and, at times, in the vena cava. The sensitivity and specificity of CT angiography are almost 100%.

Can a blood test detect a blood clot?

  • A D-dimer test is used to find out if you have a blood clotting disorder. These disorders include Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot that’s deep inside a vein.

What tests determine deep vein thrombosis?

Duplex ultrasound.
  • It’s the standard test for diagnosing DVT. For the test, a technician gently moves a small hand-held device (transducer) on your skin over the body area being studied. Sometimes a series of ultrasounds are done over several days to determine whether a blood clot is growing or to check for a new one.

What are the 10 signs of a blood clot?

Get medical help right away if you notice any of these symptoms:
  • Swelling. This can happen in the exact spot where the blood clot forms or your entire leg or arm could puff up.
  • Change in color.
  • Pain.
  • Warm skin.
  • Trouble breathing.
  • Lower leg cramp.
  • Pitting edema.
  • Swollen, painful veins.

What are the first signs of a blood clot?

DVT signs and symptoms can include:
  • Swelling in the affected leg. Rarely, there’s swelling in both legs.
  • Pain in your leg. The pain often starts in your calf and can feel like cramping or soreness.
  • Red or discolored skin on the leg.
  • A feeling of warmth in the affected leg.

What causes renal thrombosis?

  • Renal vein thrombosis is thrombotic occlusion of one or both main renal veins, resulting in acute kidney injury or chronic kidney disease. Common causes include nephrotic syndrome, primary hypercoagulability disorders, malignant renal tumors, extrinsic compression, trauma, and rarely inflammatory bowel disease.

How is renal artery thrombosis diagnosed?

Renal vein thrombosis is blockage of the renal vein, which carries blood away from the kidney, by a blood clot.
  1. The clot can damage the kidney.
  2. Symptoms may be minimal unless the clot develops suddenly.
  3. Diagnosis is with magnetic resonance angiography, Doppler ultrasonography, or computed tomography angiography.

How is renal vein thrombosis treated?

  • Treatment options for renal vein thrombosis include anticoagulation with heparin, thrombolysis, and catheter-directed or surgical thrombectomy. Long-term anticoagulation with low molecular weight heparin or oral warfarin should be started immediately if no invasive intervention is planned.

What causes RVT?

  • The most common cause of RVT in infants is dehydration. Dehydration may be caused by a reduction in both volume and circulatory blood volume due to water-depleting abnormalities like diarrhea or vomiting.

Is renal vein thrombosis an emergency?

  • Renal vein thrombosis is not common and can cause serious damage to the kidneys and other life-threatening injuries. It occurs in adults more frequently than in children.

What causes clots in a renal artery?

  • Acute arterial occlusion of the renal artery can occur after injury or trauma to the abdomen, side, or back. Blood clots that travel through the bloodstream (emboli) can lodge in the renal artery. Pieces of plaque from the walls of the arteries can come loose (on their own or during a procedure).

What happens if you have a blood clot in your kidney?

  • Renal vein thrombosis means that you have a blood clot blocking a vein in your kidney. Blood clots in renal veins are uncommon and rarely affect the kidney, but they can sometimes travel to and lodge in arteries supplying your lungs, causing a dangerous condition called a pulmonary embolism.

What does a blood clot in urine look like?

  • The presence of an excessive amount of RBCs in urine may occur due to a wide variety of pathological conditions of the urinary tract. Blood clots in urine may originate in any place in the urinary system — the urethra, bladder, or kidneys. The color of your urine may become cola-colored, red, or tea-colored.

Is renal infarction serious?

  • The diagnosis of acute renal infarction is often delayed or missed. The condition is an important cause of renal loss and can point to serious cardiovascular disease.

Does portal vein thrombosis cause pain?

  • Portal vein thrombosis causes upper abdominal pain, possibly accompanied by nausea and an enlarged liver and/or spleen; the abdomen may be filled with fluid (ascites). A persistent fever may result from generalized inflammation.

What is the meaning of the RVT test?

  • Radiation verification test (RVT)

Can a blood clot be mistaken for a kidney stone?

  • Phleboliths are small, round lumps of calcium that form in a person’s veins. They often show up as white spots on pelvic X-rays, and they can be mistaken for kidney stones.

What is the treatment for renal artery stenosis?

  • Procedures to treat renal artery stenosis may include Renal angioplasty and stenting. In this procedure, doctors widen the narrowed renal artery and place a device (stent) inside your blood vessel that holds the walls of the vessel open and allows for better blood flow. Renal artery bypass surgery.

What are the symptoms of renal artery stenosis?

Symptoms of renal artery stenosis
  • continued high blood pressure (hypertension) despite taking medications to help lower it.
  • decreased kidney function.
  • fluid retention.
  • edema (swelling), especially in your ankles and feet.
  • decreased or abnormal kidney function.
  • an increase of proteins in your urine.

What is the most common cause of renal infarction?

  • The two major causes of renal infarction are thromboembolic and in situ thrombosis. Thromboemboli usually originate from a thrombus in the heart or aorta, and in situ thrombosis is usually due to an underlying hypercoagulable condition or injury to or dissection of a renal artery.

What do you do for a renal infarct?

  • The optimal treatment for renal infarction due to thromboembolic, in situ thrombosis, or renal artery dissection is uncertain because there are no comparative studies. Reported approaches include anticoagulation, endovascular therapy (thrombolysis/thrombectomy with or without angioplasty), and open surgery.

How common is renal infarction?

  • Acute renal infarction involves occlusion of the arterial supply to the kidney and most commonly occurs as the result of thromboembolism. Incidence in patients presenting to the hospital is estimated between 0.004 and 0.007%.

Is portal vein thrombosis serious?

  • Portal vein thrombosis is a serious condition. If caught early, PVT can be treatable with noninvasive procedures and treatment.

Does portal vein thrombosis go away?

  • In acute non-cirrhotic portal vein thrombosis with an early diagnosis with improved diagnostic techniques and use of early anticoagulation, the 5-year survival rate has now improved to 85%. The outcome of PVT is good, and mortality primarily is due to an underlying cause or as a consequence of portal hypertension.

What is the commonest cause of portal vein thrombosis?

  • The underlying causes of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) are frequently multifactorial and include malignancies, progressive chronic liver diseases, processes localized to the epigastrium and hepatobiliary system, and acquired as well as inherited thrombophilia.

What does RVT mean in medical terms?

  • Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT) Certification

What is the difference between RVT CVT and LVT?

  • Different states have different naming conventions. An RVT is a registered veterinary technician, an LVT is a licensed veterinary technician and a CVT is a certified veterinary technician. They are all the same thing.

What is the difference between RVT and RVs?

  • The RVT credential is awarded by the ARDMS. The RVS credential is awarded by CCI. Both RVT and RVs are accepted credentials in the field of vascular ultrasound. To learn more about sonographer and sonography laboratory credentialing, see the “Accreditation  Credentialing Bodies” links on our Resources page.

What are the symptoms of splanchnic vein thrombosis?

  • The most common symptom is abdominal pain, reported in approximately half of SVT patients, followed by gastrointestinal bleeding and ascites. Other nonspecific symptoms are nausea, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea or constipation, and fever.

What are the complications of portal vein thrombosis?

  • Frequent complications were splenomegaly, oesophageal- and gastric varices with or without bleeding, portal hypertensive gastropathy and ascites. Varices and bleeding were more frequent in patients with chronic PVT. Patients who received anticoagulant therapy more frequently achieved partial/complete recanalization.

How long can you live with a portal vein thrombosis?

  • In adults with portal vein thrombosis, the 10-year survival rate has been reported to be 38-60%, with most of the deaths occurring secondary to the underlying disease (eg, cirrhosis, malignancy).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this article a replacement for a doctor?

No. It is educational content only. Patients should consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment.

When should I seek urgent care?

Seek urgent care for severe symptoms, rapidly worsening condition, breathing difficulty, severe pain, neurological changes, or any emergency warning sign.

References

Add references, clinical guidelines, textbooks, journal articles, or trusted medical sources here. You can edit this area later with a custom field named _rx_references.

Related Articles

Hemoglobin A1c Test

November 6, 202521 min read0 views

The hemoglobin A1c test—also known as glycated hemoglobin, glycosylated hemoglobin, HbA1c, or simply A1c—is used to measure an individual’s glucose control levels. The test shows average…

Read more

Orbital Decompression Surgery

August 18, 202518 min read0 views

Orbital decompression is an operation to make more room inside the eye socket. The eye socket is called the “orbit.” It is a cone-shaped…

Read more

Olfactory Nerve Disorders

May 8, 20248 min read0 views

Olfactory nerve disorders affect our sense of smell. This can impact our ability to enjoy food, detect danger like gas leaks, or even notice…

Read more

Written by Dr. Harun Ar Rashid, MD - Arthritis, Bones, Joints Pain, Trauma, and Internal Medicine Specialist

Dr. Md. Harun Ar Rashid, MPH, MD, PhD, is a highly respected medical specialist celebrated for his exceptional clinical expertise and unwavering commitment to patient care. With advanced qualifications including MPH, MD, and PhD, he integrates cutting-edge research with a compassionate approach to medicine, ensuring that every patient receives personalized and effective treatment. His extensive training and hands-on experience enable him to diagnose complex conditions accurately and develop innovative treatment strategies tailored to individual needs. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Harun Ar Rashid is dedicated to medical education and research, writing and inventory creative thinking, innovative idea, critical care managementing make in his community to outreach, often participating in initiatives that promote health awareness and advance medical knowledge. His career is a testament to the high standards represented by his credentials, and he continues to contribute significantly to his field, driving improvements in both patient outcomes and healthcare practices. Born and educated in Bangladesh, Dr. Rashid earned his BPT from the University of Dhaka before pursuing postgraduate training internationally. He completed his MD in Internal Medicine at King’s College London, where he developed a special interest in inflammatory arthritis and metabolic bone disease. He then undertook a PhD in Orthopedic Science at the University of Oxford, conducting pioneering research on cytokine signaling pathways in rheumatoid arthritis. Following his doctoral studies, Dr. Rashid returned to clinical work with a fellowship in interventional pain management at the Rx University School of Medicine, refining his skills in image-guided joint injections and minimally invasive pain-relief techniques.