[Which is the best performing imaging method for demonstrating residual renal calculi?].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the results of plain abdominal films, tomography, ultrasonography and spiral computed tomography in the detection of residual stone fragments after extracorporeal lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy.


METHODS
Prospective study on 31 patients and 40 renal units comparing the results obtained by plain abdominal films, tomography, ultrasonography and spiral CT.


RESULTS
This study demonstrates the superiority of spiral CT over the other examinations for detection of renal stones (sensitivity of 100% for spiral CT, 89.2% for tomography, 82.1% for plain abdominal films and 67.8% for ultrasonography), determination of their number (n = 68, 58, 60 and 27, respectively) and demonstration of millimetric stones (100%, 69.4%, 67.8% and 2.7%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Spiral CT is the method of renal stone imaging which provides the most reliable diagnosis of radiopaque, non radiopaque, millimetric or centimetric stones, regardless of local anatomical conditions.
Gaucher
O
O
Service d'Urologie, CHU de Nancy-Brabois, Vandoeuvre les Nancy, France.
Cormier
L
L
Deneuville
M
M
Régent
D
D
Mangin
P
P
Hubert
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008096:Lithotripsy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009403:Nephrostomy, Percutaneous; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods
Quelle est la méthode d'imagerie la plus performante pour mettre en évidence des calculs rénaux résiduels?