title: Assessment of ureterovesical jet dynamics in obstructed ureter by urinary stone with color Doppler and duplex Doppler examinations.
abstract: This study was designed to evaluate ureterovesical jet dynamics in obstructed ureter and to compare it with those of contralateral unobstructed side. Forty-six patients with diagnosis of ureteral stone, based on imaging findings in computed tomography were enrolled in this study. The gray-scale ultrasound exam from both kidneys and urinary bladder was performed. Then, ureterovesical jet characteristics including ureteral jet frequency, duration and peak velocity were assessed by color Doppler and duplex Doppler studies in both obstructed and unobstructed ureters by a radiologist, 15-30 min after oral hydration with 750-1,000 mL of water. When compared with contralateral normal side, the ureterovesical jet in obstructed ureter showed less frequency (0.59 vs. 3.04 jets/min; P < 0.05), shorter duration (1.24 vs. 5.26 s; P < 0.05) and lower peak velocity (5.41 vs. 32.09 cm/s; P < 0.05). The cut-off points of 1.5 jets/min, 2.5 s and 19.5 cm/s for difference of ureteral jet frequency, duration and peak velocity between obstructed and contralateral normal ureters yielded sensitivities of 97.8, 95.6 and 100 % and specificities of 87, 87.9 and 97.8 %, respectively for diagnosis of ureteral obstruction. Given the safety of Doppler study and significant differences in flow dynamics of obstructed versus unobstructed ureters, our findings demonstrated the utility of Doppler ultrasound examination as a useful adjunct to gray-scale ultrasound by improving the accuracy of ultrasound exam in diagnosis of ureteral obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Poursina Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran. abjandaghi@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ali Babaei
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Jandaghi
authors.forename: Siavash
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Falahatkar
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alizadeh
authors.forename: Alireza Rajabzadeh
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kanafi
authors.forename: Ramin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pourghorban
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shekarchi
authors.forename: Amin Keshavarz
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Zirak
authors.forename: Samaneh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esmaeili
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D006869:Hydronephrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000652:urine; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000652:urine; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000652:urine; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055815:Young Adult