Renal colic patient; comparison of un-enhanced helical computed tomography, intravenous urography and ultrasound + Plain X-Ray"

ABSTRACT

To compare Un-enhanced Helical Computed Tomography [UHCT], Ultrasonography [US] + Plain X-Ray and Intravenous Urography [IVU] in the evaluation of patients with suspected renal colic. In 70 patients with renal colic US, plain X-ray, IVU and UHCT were performed to demonstrate urinary stones and other relevant pathologies. Patients were then followed-up to stone passage or removal, and the course of clinical symptoms were noted. 57 patients had ureteral stones based on stone passage or removal. 13 patients did not have ureteral stones based on failure to recover a stone, disappearance of symptoms, and diagnosis unrelated to stone disease. Un-enhanced helical computed tomography was found to be the most useful method in the demonstration of ureteral stones with a sensitivity of 97%. Reformatted images clearly depicted the intraureteral location of stones in most cases. Spiral UHCT showed renal calculi in 15 patients, USG + KUB in 12 and IVU in 9 patients. Non-contrast axial and reformatted spiral CT [UHCT] images were found superior to USG + KUB and IVU in the depiction of ureteral and renal calculi. Reformatted images offer a good alternative to IVU in problematic cases