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World J Diabetes. May 15, 2026; 17(5): 118278
Published online May 15, 2026. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v17.i5.118278
Published online May 15, 2026. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v17.i5.118278
Diabetic kidney disease: Radiological assessment and clinical correlations
Salvatore Silipigni, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphologic and Functional Imaging, Policlinico Universitario “G. Martino”, University of Messina, Messina 98121, Sicilia, Italy
Guido Gembillo, Serena Ausilia Ferrara, Unit of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina 98125, Sicilia, Italy
Lorenzo Lo Cicero, Maria Federica Ricca, Unit of Nephrology and Dialysis, AOU “G. Martino”, University of Messina, Messina 98125, Sicilia, Italy
Giuseppe Spadaro, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, AOU “G. Martino”, University of Messina, Messina 98125, Sicilia, Italy
Luca Soraci, Unit of Geriatric Medicine, Italian National Research Center on Aging (IRCCS INRCA), Cosenza 87100, Calabria, Italy
Antonio Bottari, Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina 98125, Sicilia, Italy
Author contributions: Silipigni S and Gembillo G conceived and designed the study; Silipigni S and Lo Cicero L performed the literature search and data collection; Ferrara SA and Ricca MF independently screened the articles and assessed eligibility; Spadaro G and Soraci L analyzed and interpreted the data; Gembillo G drafted the manuscript; Bottari A critically revised the manuscript for important intellectual content and supervised the study; all authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Corresponding author: Guido Gembillo, MD, Assistant Professor, Unit of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 1, Messina 98125, Sicilia, Italy. guidogembillo@live.it
Received: December 30, 2025
Revised: January 30, 2026
Accepted: March 10, 2026
Published online: May 15, 2026
Processing time: 133 Days and 8.3 Hours
Revised: January 30, 2026
Accepted: March 10, 2026
Published online: May 15, 2026
Processing time: 133 Days and 8.3 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Radiological imaging plays an increasingly important role in diabetic kidney disease assessment, effectively complementing traditional biochemical markers. Ultrasonography remains the primary imaging modality, while advanced techniques including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography provide enhanced evaluation of renal perfusion, fibrosis, and microstructural changes. Integration of multimodal imaging with clinical data improves diagnostic accuracy, enables earlier disease detection, and optimizes therapeutic decision-making, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes in this leading cause of chronic kidney disease.