1 University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06032
To the Editor.
In a recent article, Sheih et al.1 suggest that renal ultrasonography may provide a simple and cost-effective tool for screening large populations for renal abnormalities. However, two additional cost factors need to be taken into consideration. First, there is the cost of the further evaluation of the 595 patients (of 635) who did not need surgery. At a minimum they had another ultrasonographic examination. Second, the authors imply that the 50 patients who underwent surgery were saved from the cost of treatment of renal failure.