Value of kidney-ureter-bladder radiography in the erect position in addition to standard intravenous urography examination

ABSTRACT

To determine if additional kidney-ureter-bladder radiography in the erect position can improve the diagnostic yield of standard intravenous urography [IVU] examination. This prospective study was conducted from March to July 2007 on 108 consecutive patients [65 males and 43 females, age ranging from 20 to 50 years] who were referred to the Department of Radiology, Al-Amiri Hospital, Kuwait, for IVU examinations. After 15 min, a film was done in the erect position in addition to the routine IVU protocol. Additional information was demonstrated in the erect radiograph as follows detecting nephroptosis in 18 [17%] patients, improved visualization of the ureters in 58 [54%] patients, and differentiation between phleboliths and ureteric stone was possible in 12 [11%] patients. Our study demonstrated significant additional findings in the erect position [at 15 min] compared to the supine position