title: Unexplained renal colic: what is the utility of IV contrast?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of intravenous (IV) contrast in patients with suspected renal colic and unremarkable unenhanced MDCT.
  
  
  METHODS
  One thousand two hundred and four patients with suspected ureterolithiasis were evaluated with unenhanced MDCT. Seven hundred and eight patients that had additional imaging following IV contrast were our study group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the patients, 9.4% (67/708) had abnormalities seen only on contrast-enhanced exams. In 53.1% (376/708) of the patients, no additional finding was identified after IV contrast.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IV contrast in patients with renal colic is rarely helpful.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Suite 800, 676 N. St. Clair, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. fmiller@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Frank H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kraemer
authors.forename: Kshitij
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dalal
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keppke
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.forename: Frederick L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Hoff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003085:Colic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007479:Iopamidol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D011704:Pyelonephritis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D007479:Iopamidol