title: Does ultra-low-dose CT with a radiation dose equivalent to that of KUB suffice to detect renal and ureteral calculi?
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of multislice CT using a radiation dose equivalent to that of conventional abdominal x-ray (KUB). One hundred forty-two patients were prospectively examined with ultrasound and a radically dose-reduced CT protocol (120 kV, 6.9 eff. mAs). Number and size of calculi, presence of urinary obstruction, and alternative diagnoses were recorded and confirmed by stone removal/discharge or by clinical and imaging follow-up. The mean effective whole-body dose was 0.5 mSv in men and 0.7 mSv in women. The sensitivity and specificity in detecting patients with calculi was 97% and 95% for CT and 67% and 90% for ultrasound. Urinary obstruction was similarly assessed, whereas CT identified significantly more alternative diagnoses than ultrasound (P<0.001). With regard to published data for standard-dose CT, the present CT protocol seems to be comparable in its diagnostic yield in assessing patients with calculi, and its radiation dose is equivalent to that of KUB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany. claudia.kluner@charite.de
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kluner
authors.forename: Patrick A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Hein
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gralla
authors.forename: Eike
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hein
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hamm
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Patrik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rogalla
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*