Urinary tract abnormalities: initial experience with multi-detector row CT urography.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate multi-detector row computed tomographic (CT) urography for detection of urinary tract abnormalities.


METHODS
Sixty-five patients referred from the urology service, in whom urinary tract abnormalities were strongly suspected, underwent multi-detector row CT urography. The technique included unenhanced, nephrographic, compression, and excretory-phase images through the abdomen and pelvis. Transverse images and three-dimensional reformations were reviewed by one of two radiologists. Findings were retrospectively compared with results of urinalysis, cystoscopy and/or ureteroscopy, and/or surgery.


RESULTS
Multi-detector row CT urography depicted many clinically diagnosed urinary tract abnormalities, including 15 of 16 uroepithelial malignancies, five congenital anomalies, five urinary tract calculi, and 18 calyceal and/or papillary, 30 renal pelvic and/or ureteral, and 25 bladder abnormalities. All abnormalities were detected on transverse images. These abnormalities included diffuse urothelial wall thickening in four patients (three of whom had transitional cell carcinoma), a renal abscess, a colovesical fistula, and incidentally detected extrarenal disease (a liver mass, hepatic metastases, lymph node metastases, an aortic dissection, and a pheochromocytoma; each of these findings was seen in one patient).


CONCLUSIONS
Multi-detector row CT urography is a useful method for detecting urinary tract abnormalities.
Caoili
Elaine M
EM
Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-9723, USA. caoili@umich.edu
Cohan
Richard H
RH
Korobkin
Melvyn
M
Platt
Joel F
JF
Francis
Isaac R
IR
Faerber
Gary J
GJ
Montie
James E
JE
Ellis
James H
JH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014567:Urography / Q000379:methods; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*