Document Detail


Helical CT scanning: the primary imaging modality for acute flank pain.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  11043614     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
We set out to evaluate the accuracy of nonenhanced helical computed tomography (CT) scanning at stone detection in the patient with acute flank pain, and as a means of detecting noncalculus causes of acute flank pain. Between April 1995 and April 1997, 412 consecutive patients with acute flank pain underwent noncontrast-enhanced helical CT. Two hundred eighty-one patients had confirmation of their CT diagnosis by other radiographic studies, urologic intervention, or spontaneous stone passage of calculi. We determined the presence or absence of urinary calculi, as well as the presence of other noncalculus pathology. CT scanning revealed a stone in 92/281 patients (32.7%) and no stone in 189/281 patients (67.3%). Of the 189 patients, 60/189 patients (32%) had another positive finding as a cause for flank pain. Eighty-one of 92 patients with a stone on CT (88%) had confirmation of stone disease by radiologic or surgical intervention. Eleven of 92 patients (12%) did not have confirmation of their diagnosis because of resolution of symptoms or refusal of further intervention. On helical CT scans 129/189 patients demonstrated no abnormalities. Two of 189 (1.5%) thought to be stone free by CT passed a stone. Helical CT had a sensitivity of 97%, a specificity of 92%, a positive predictive value of 88%, and a negative predictive value of 98% at stone detection. Noncontrast-enhanced helical CT is accurate and rapid in detecting calculus disease in patients with acute flank pain. Perhaps more importantly, it provides the added benefit of detecting noncalculus causes of flank pain in greater than 30% of patients.
Authors:
M M Nachmann; R C Harkaway; S L Summerton; M M Horrow; C L Kirby; R G Fields; P C Ginsberg
Related Documents :
21771954 - Quantitative and qualitative 23na mr imaging of the human kidneys at 3 t: before and af...
15735374 - Ct attenuation value and shockwave fragmentation.
8536514 - Gallbladder stone recurrence after medical treatment. do gallstones recur true to type?
9015084 - Communications of the pelvic extraperitoneal spaces and their relation to the abdominal...
8934124 - Magnetic resonance imaging assessment of labyrinthine pathology.
18849684 - Pediatric dose reduction in computed tomography.
Publication Detail:
Type:  Evaluation Studies; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The American journal of emergency medicine     Volume:  18     ISSN:  0735-6757     ISO Abbreviation:  Am J Emerg Med     Publication Date:  2000 Oct 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2000-11-03     Completed Date:  2000-11-03     Revised Date:  2004-11-17    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8309942     Medline TA:  Am J Emerg Med     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  649-52     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Urology, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 19141, USA.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Female
Flank Pain / etiology*
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Reproducibility of Results
Tomography, X-Ray Computed*
Urinary Calculi / complications,  diagnosis,  radiography*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Vasorelaxing effects of Caesalpinia sappan involvement of endogenous nitric oxide.
Next Document:  Prophylactic metoclopramide is unnecessary with intravenous analgesia in the ED.