Ultrasonography for detecting ureteric calculi with non enhanced ct as a reference standard : (prospective study)‎

Abstract EN

Objective : to prospective study determine the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography (US) for detecting ureteric calculi and to establish the accuracy of US for determining the site, size and number of calculi in ureter.

Patients and Methods : Between June 2008 and December 2009, 100 consecutive patients (age range, 16-65 years; 60 male, 40 female) seen on our emergency department with ureteric colic suspected to have ureteric stone by clinical examination, underwent US evaluation included a careful search for ureteral calculi.

Presence of calculi, site of calculi and obstruction and incidental diagnoses were recorded.

then patients undergo CT on same day or second day for compare the result.

All CT studies evaluated the ureter for presence of calculi.

US and computed tomography (CT) examinations were compared for the presence of ureteric calculi (site in ureter and size ).

The sensitivity of US was determined for presence of calculi in ureter findings were compared with computed tomography.

The size of calculi in longest axis were compared on US and CT images.

Results : US depicted 20 calculi identified at CT, yielding sensitivity 20% and specificity 100 %, there was no substantial difference for detecting calculi in left or right ureter, the specificity of the ultrasound examination was 100 %, but the sensitivity was 20 % except for the lower ureteric calculi (sensitivity 28%).

US find 6 calculi in upper ureter from 26 calculi (sensitivity 23 %), while 2 calculi from 30 in middle ureter (sensitivity 6 %), and 12 calculi from 42 calculi in lower ureter (sensitivity 28 % ) identified at CT, Conclusion : US is of limited value for detecting ureteric calculi specially in middle ureter.