Ultrasonography for ureteral stone detection in patients with or without caliceal dilatation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between the degree of hydronephrosis and the detection rates of ureteral stones with ultrasonography (US).


METHODS
Of 250 consecutive patients with suspected ureterolithiasis, 214 who were diagnosed with ureterolithiasis were enrolled in this study. First, both kidneys were observed by US to evaluate the intrarenal collecting systems. Thereafter, the possible course of the ureters and the bladder were searched to find any stones.


RESULTS
Stones were clearly observed in 80 (73%) of 109 patients with caliceal dilatation, whereas stones were clearly observed in 46 (44%) of 105 patients without dilatation (P < 0.05). Of the former 80 patients, 31 (39%) had stones in the ureterovesical junction (UVJ), whereas 51 (64%) had stones in the more proximal ureter. Of the latter 46 patients, 37 (80%) had stones in the UVJ or the bladder, whereas 9 (20%) had stones in the more proximal ureter.


CONCLUSIONS
The US detection rate of ureteral stones was high in patients with caliceal dilatation. The whole ureter should be scanned in patients with caliceal dilatation for detection of ureteral stones. Even when patients have no caliceal dilatation, it is still considered to be useful to scan the UVJ and the bladder.
Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital, 911-1 Takebayashi, Utsunomiya, Tochigi, 321-0974, Japan. kamekame@pb3.so-net.ne.jp.
Toru
T
Kameda
Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital, 911-1 Takebayashi, Utsunomiya, Tochigi, 321-0974, Japan.
Fukiko
F
Kawai
Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Japan.
Nobuyuki
N
Taniguchi
Department of Urology, Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital, Utsunomiya, Japan.
Ikuo
I
Mori
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital, Utsunomiya, Japan.
Masako
M
Ono
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital, Utsunomiya, Japan.
Noriko
N
Tsukahara
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital, Utsunomiya, Japan.
Yasuyuki
Y
Kobori
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital, Utsunomiya, Japan.
Hidetoshi
H
Yoshida
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital, Utsunomiya, Japan.
Kazuko
K
Wagai
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital, Utsunomiya, Japan.
Atsuko
A
Numao
Hydronephrosis; Ultrasonography; Ureteral stone; Ureterolithiasis