Which diagnostic procedure can visualize the renal outline and identify lower rib fractures?

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The kidney, ureter, and bladder (KUB) film is an important diagnostic imaging technique that provides a clear outline of the renal structures, offering a view of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder on a single radiograph. This method is particularly effective for visualizing the kidneys' position and contour and can also help identify any lower rib fractures due to the close anatomical relationship between the ribs and the kidneys.

A KUB film is often used in the initial evaluation of abdominal pain and can be pivotal in detecting both renal pathologies and bony injuries in the lower rib area.

The other options, while valuable in their respective contexts, do not primarily focus on visualizing the renal outline or identifying lower rib fractures in the same straightforward manner. Intravenous pyelography and renal angiography are more specialized tests geared toward assessing kidney function and vascularization, and they often require the use of contrast media. Computed tomography can provide detailed images, but it is typically more complex and may not be necessary for a straightforward examination of the renal outline or to identify simple fractures.

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