RENAL COLIC PATIENT

COMPARISON OF UN-ENHANCED HELICAL COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY, INTRAVENOUS UROGRAPHY AND ULTRASOUND + PLAIN X-RAY”

Abstract

Objectives: 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. Subjects: 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. Results: 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. Conclusions: 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.