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Detection of uric acid stones in the ureter using low- and conventional-dose computed tomography

  • Gene O. Huang
  • , Steven R. Engebretsen
  • , Jason C. Smith
  • , Caroline L. Wallner
  • , David J. Culpepper
  • , Jonathan D. Creech
  • , Caleb C. Ng
  • , Andrew T. Mai
  • , Christopher S. Chung
  • , Gaudencio Olgin
  • , Don C. Arnold
  • , D. Duane Baldwin

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    OBJECTIVE: To determine the ability of low- and conventional-dose computed tomography (CT) in identification of uric acid stones, which are of lower density than calcium oxalate stones.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: Uric acid stones (3, 5, and 7 mm) were randomly placed in human cadaveric ureters and scanned using conventional 140-mAs and low-dose 70-, 50-, 30-, 15-, 7.5-, and 5-mAs settings. A single-blinded radiologist reviewed a total of 523 scanned stone images. Sensitivity and specificity were compared among different settings and stone sizes.

    RESULTS: Imaging using 140-, 70-, 50-, 30-, 15-, 7.5-, and 5-mAs settings resulted in 97%, 97%, 96%, 93%, 83%, 83%, and 69% sensitivity and 92%, 92%, 91%, 89%, 88%, 91%, and 94% specificity, respectively. There was a significant difference in sensitivity between 140 mAs and 15, 7.5, and 5 mAs (P = .011, P = .011, and P <.001, respectively). Sensitivity for 3-, 5-, and 7-mm stones was 83%, 90%, and 93%, respectively. At ≤ 15 mAs, 3-mm stones had a higher rate of false negatives (P <.001).

    CONCLUSION: Both low- and conventional-dose CTs demonstrate excellent sensitivity and specificity for the detection of ureteral uric acid stones. However, low-dose CT at ≤ 15 mAs resulted in reduced detection of uric acid stones.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)571-574
    Number of pages4
    JournalUrology
    Volume84
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Sep 2014

    ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

    • Urology

    Keywords

    • Reproducibility of Results
    • Calcium Oxalate/chemistry
    • Humans
    • Male
    • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
    • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
    • Uric Acid/analysis
    • Ureteral Calculi/diagnosis
    • Sensitivity and Specificity
    • Female
    • Ureter/diagnostic imaging
    • Cadaver
    • Observer Variation

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