Kidney Stones and Imaging: What Can Your Radiologist Do for You?

Overview

Journal World J Urol

Specialty Urology

Date 2014 Oct 27

PMID 25344895

Citations 8

Authors

Raphaele Renard-Penna

Aurelie Martin

Pierre Conort

Pierre Mozer

Philippe Grenier

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: We discuss in this review, urologists' expectations of imaging in terms of detection, characterization, pre-planning treatment and follow-up of urinary stones.

Materials And Methods: Data acquisition regarding kidney stones and imaging was performed using MEDLINE searches with combinations of the following keywords: urinary stones, CT Urography, low dose CT, MRI urography, renal stones ultrasound, conventional radiography, surgery.

Results: CT has become the gold standard for the evaluation of urinary stones. Scanning provides information regarding stone (composition, size, burden, location), collecting system and renal parenchyma. Those findings are crucial in determining appropriate treatment strategies. Because CT exposes the patient to substantial ionizing radiation, efforts have already been made to decrease the CT radiation dose for CT examination (low dose CT) and optimize image quality. Efforts also are being made to use non ionizing modalities such as ultrasound in combination with radiography particularly for the follow up of renal stones.

Conclusion: CT is the preferred method for the evaluation and treatment planning of urolithiasis. CT radiation dose reduction can be achieved with low dose CT. However, conventional radiography and ultrasound are still recommended in the follow up of renal stones.

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