title: Urocystolith detection: comparison of survey, contrast radiographic and ultrasonographic techniques in an in vitro bladder phantom.
abstract: Urocystoliths of 9 mineral types from 437 canine patients submitted to the University of Minnesota Urolith Bank were imaged in a urinary bladder phantom. Imaging techniques simulated were survey radiography, pneumocystography, double contrast cystography (two iodine concentrations) and real-time ultrasonography (3.5 MHz, 5.0 MHz, 7.5 MHz). Imaging techniques were compared for accuracy of urocystolith detection, accuracy of urocystolith enumeration, and tendencies for over or undercounting. Across urocystolith mineral types, the false negative rates (no urocystoliths detected in a given case) for survey radiographs range from 2 to 27%. Pneumocystographic techniques are one-half as likely to yield false negative results as are survey radiographic techniques. Underestimates of urocystolith numbers and false negatives are likely using 80 mg iodine/ml double contrast cystography because calcium-based urocystoliths are isopaque in this contrast medium dilution. The 200 mg iodine/ml double contrast cystographic techniques are unlikely to yield false negative diagnoses even for very small (< or = 1.0 mm) urocystoliths and is comparable to pneumocystography for detection and slightly better for enumeration. The likelihood of an ultrasonographic false negative for urocystoliths decreases with increasing MHz. Under optimal conditions using a 7.5 MHz mechanical sector transducer, the false negative rates were comparable to double contrast cystography, but rates increased notably with lower MHz transducers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, C339 Veterinary Teaching Hospital, St. Paul 55108, USA.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Weichselbaum
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Feeney
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Jessen
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Osborne
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dreytser
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Holte
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry; D002129:Calcium Oxalate / Q000737:chemistry; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry; D003287:Contrast Media; D003460:Crystallization; D003553:Cystine / Q000737:chemistry; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D004285:Dogs; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D007455:Iodine; D017616:Magnesium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D008903:Minerals / Q000737:chemistry; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D010710:Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry; D011029:Pneumoradiography / Q000662:veterinary; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000069877:Struvite; D014159:Transducers / Q000662:veterinary; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D001744:Urinary Bladder Calculi / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D003287:Contrast Media; D017616:Magnesium Compounds; D008903:Minerals; D010710:Phosphates; C485828:alpha-tricalcium phosphate; C485830:tetracalcium phosphate; D002129:Calcium Oxalate; D014527:Uric Acid; D003553:Cystine; C485838:calcium phosphate, monobasic, anhydrous; D007455:Iodine; C020243:calcium phosphate; D000069877:Struvite; C485829:calcium phosphate, dibasic, anhydrous; D002118:Calcium