Abstract
In most patients, ureteral obstruction results from an acute process with associated symptoms. Some controversy exists as to which imaging studies are best for investigating suspected ureteral obstruction. At the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, the noncontrast helical computed tomography (CT) is preferred because it is safe and extremely rapid, and the accuracy rate for detecting ureteral stones, the most common cause of ureteral obstruction, exceeds that of other imaging studies. Noncontrast helical CT has an overall accuracy of 97% for diagnosing ureteral stone disease. This far exceeds the accuracy of intravenous urography (IVU) or sonography (US). Regardless of composition, virtually all ureteral stones will have high attenuation values making them readily detectable with CT. Nonmineralized matrix stones and some drug-related stones (protease inhibitors) may not be visible on CT images but these are rarely encountered. Noncontrast helical CT is also highly accurate in demonstrating the size and location of ureteral stones.
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© 1999 Springer-Verlag Italia
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Zagoria, R.J. (1999). Obstruction and Infection of the Kidneys and Ureters. In: von Schulthess, G.K., Zollikofer, C.L. (eds) Diseases of the Abdomen and Pelvis. Syllabus. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2141-9_36
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2141-9_36
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