64-Slice CT urography: 30 months of clinical experience.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to assess the diagnostic accuracy of 64-slice computed tomography urography (CTU) in evaluation of the urinary tract.


METHODS
A total of 322 CTU procedures were carried out in 317 consecutive patients (mean age 64.4 years). The findings were compared with previous and subsequent patient workup considering both laboratory and imaging studies, such as urine cytology, abdominal ultrasound and CT, cystoscopy, retrograde pyelography, surgery and pathology.


RESULTS
Out of 322 CTU examinations, 169 showed significant urinary tract changes, whereas 153 revealed no urinary disease, in good agreement with the follow-up. In particular, in bladder evaluation, for which we have a direct comparison with cystoscopy in 125 patients, we calculated a CTU sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and diagnostic accuracy of 85%, 94%, 92%, 89% and 90%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
CTU was accurate for urinary tract evaluation, but it cannot replace cystoscopy in patients in whom a malignant bladder disease is suspected.
Martingano
P
P
UCO di Radiologia, Ospedale di Cattinara, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Ospedali Riuniti di Trieste, Strada di Fiume 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy. pmartingano@sirm.org
Stacul
F
F
Cavallaro
M
M
Casagrande
F
F
Cernic
S
S
Belgrano
M
M
Cova
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014567:Urography / Q000379:methods*; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*