Can the degree of hydronephrosis on ultrasound predict kidney stone size?
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to determine if the degree of hydronephrosis on focused emergency renal ultrasound correlates with kidney stone size on computed tomography.


METHODS
A retrospective study was performed on all adult patients in the emergency department who had a focused emergency renal ultrasound and ureterolithiasis on noncontrast computed tomography. Severity of hydronephrosis was determined by the performing physician. Ureteral stone size was grouped into 5 mm or less and larger than 5 mm based on likelihood of spontaneous passage.


RESULTS
One hundred seventy-seven ultrasound scans were performed on patients with ureteral calculi. When dichotomized using test characteristic analysis, patients with none or mild hydronephrosis (72.9%) were less likely to have ureteral calculi larger than 5 mm than those with moderate or severe hydronephrosis (12.4% vs 35.4%; P < .001) with a negative predictive value of 0.876 (95% confidence interval, 0.803-0.925).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with less severe hydronephrosis were less likely to have larger ureteral calculi.
Goertz
Jacob K
JK
Department of Emergency Medicine, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY 11040, USA. JGoertz@nshs.edu
Lotterman
Seth
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004635:Emergency Medicine; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006869:Hydronephrosis / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography; D053039:Ureterolithiasis / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*