title: The outcome of computed tomography in patients with acute renal colic from a low-volume hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the interobserver variability of unenhanced helical computed tomography (UHCT) in patients with acute renal colic admitted into a low-volume hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  All admissions with acute renal colic between August 2002 and February 2004 (18 months) were registered. A total of 133 CT scans were performed on patients suspected of having a stone in the urinary tract (< 24 h after admission). All records were subsequently evaluated, the acute CT scans were re-evaluated by a radiological specialist. Interobserver agreements were assessed by means of Kappa analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 133 consecutive patients met the criteria for inclusion, of whom 62 were women and 71 were men. A total of 67 stones in 53 patients were identified. The variability of the radiological diagnosis (doctors under training and one consultant) was calculated, and the Kappa values were +0.66 and +0.69 for stones on the right and left side, respectively. The Kappa values for stones in ureter and the kidney were +0.79 and +0.52, respectively. In addition to stone disease, there were additional diagnoses in 30 patients (23%), out of whom seven had a malignant tumor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a low-volume hospital with fewer than 100 procedures a year, we found the UHCT method to be safe and reliable with a good interobserver agreement and Kappa value.
authors: Department of Urology, Regionshospitalet Viborg, Viborg Hospital, 8800 Viborg, Denmark. Dr.LL@Dadlnet.dk
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Lund
authors: U L
authors: UL
authors: Larsen
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Anderson
authors: N T
authors: NT
authors: Mikkelsen
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Holt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003085:Colic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006766:Hospitals, County / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013548:Sweden; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed