CT for the evaluation of flank pain.
Unenhanced helical CT allows rapid and accurate determination of whether a stone is present anywhere in the urinary tract. There is a learning curve for both radiologist and urologist, but a number of signs are highly predictive of stone. Helical CT scans should always be accompanied by a "scoutogram" to convey an idea of what the stone might look like. The scan requires no contrast medium and takes only 5 to 10 minutes of imaging time, making it cost effective. It behooves both urologists and radiologists to familiarize themselves with the techniques for reading these scans.
Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA.
K R
KR
Anderson
R C
RC
Smith
D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003950:Diagnostic Techniques, Urological / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D014545:Urinary Calculi / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology