[Value of non-contrast helical computerized tomography in nephrotic colic assessment].
OBJECTIVE
To compare non-contrast helicoid CAT to urological ultrasound in order to determine the sensitivity of both in the etiological diagnosis of nephritic colic.


METHODS
Retrospective study conducted on a total of 86 patients seen in our ER service over a 12-month period with a diagnosis of nephritic colic. All patients with suspicious diagnosis of nephritic colic underwent X-ray examination, with either non-contrast helicoid CAR or urological ultrasound, or with a combination of both imaging techniques. Radiologic diagnosis of nephritic colic was made by direct visualization of the obstructive cause or by the presence of indirect radiological signs of upper urinary tract obstruction.


RESULTS
Of 86 patients studied, in 84 (97.67%) a urinary stone was the cause for obstruction. Overall sensitivity of helicoid CAT to diagnose colic etiology was 94.73%, whereas ultrasound sensitivity was only 53.42%, displaying a particularly low sensitivity when the obstruction was located at the mid third level of the ureter.


CONCLUSIONS
Non-contrast helicoid CAT shows superior sensitivity as a radiologic technique than ultrasound to identify the cause of a nephritic colic in any segment of the upper urinary tract.
Rodríguez Alonso
A
A
Servicio de Urología, Hospital Xeral-Cíes, Vigo, Pontevedra.
Pérez García
D
D
Ojea Calvo
A
A
Rodríguez Iglesias
B
B
Alonso Rodrigo
A
A
Barros Rodríguez
J M
JM
Benavente Delgado
J
J
Nogueira March
J L
JL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003085:Colic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography