Sonographic Reference Values for Bladder Wall Thickness, Detrusor Wall Thickness, and Bladder Weight in Apparently Healthy Adults in a Nigerian Population

Abstract

The aim was to establish reference values of bladder wall thickness (BWT), detrusor wall thickness (DWT), and bladder weight (BW) in apparently healthy adults in a Nigerian population. Therefore, a cross-sectional study of healthy adult participants was conducted from May 2015 to April 2016. The urinary bladder was sonographically evaluated on a convenient sample of 384 adult participants. The BWT, DWT, and BW of the participants were measured and documented. The BW was estimated based on the surface area, thickness, and bladder muscle specific gravity. The mean BWT, DWT, and BW were 2.8 ± 0.3 mm, 1.3 ± 0.1 mm, and 23.3 ± 4.1 g, respectively. There was no statistically significant correlation between anthropometric variables with BWT, DWT, and BW except age, which had a weak positive correlation with BWT (P =.05). This data set could be used for future research, in other parts of the country, for a possible nationwide nomogram.