title: Unenhanced helical CT in the investigation of acute flank pain.
abstract: Unenhanced helical CT has emerged as the imaging technique of choice for the investigation of patients presenting with acute flank pain and suspected nephroureteric stone disease. There are several signs identifiable on unenhanced CT that support a diagnosis of stone disease. However, there are many pitfalls, that may confound a correct diagnosis. Some of the common pitfalls, together with methods to avoid such occurrences, will be discussed. A review of some of the common alternative diagnoses that may mimic the symptoms of nephroureteric stone disease is illustrated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colistro
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Torreggiani
authors.forename: Iain D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Lyburn
authors.forename: Alison C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Nizar A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Al-Nakshabandi
authors.forename: Savvas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nicolaou
authors.forename: Peter L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Munk
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D021501:Flank Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*