[Diagnostic reliability of echography in ureteral lithiasis]

Minerva Urol Nefrol. 1991 Apr-Jun;43(2):69-73.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

This article takes into account the diagnostic reliability of ultrasounds (US) in the ureteral lithiasis localisation. A stone has been ultrasonographically localised in 82.3% of 119 patients, this rate rising up to 89.4% in the last 85 consecutive patients. From a clinical point of view, 104 patients presented renal signs, whereas 10 out of them showed an atypical symptomatology, which at first led to a suspicion of acute appendicitis (5), intestinal obstruction (4), acute pancreatitis (1). A stone was accidentally detected in five asymptomatic patients. In 80% of the cases, the stone was situated in the proximal or juxtavesical ureter; in 20%, in the middle or distal ureter. A particular stress is laid in the ultrasonographic follow-up, by which the stone was uncovered in 6 cases, at first considered negative at US. Eight patients had to be referred to treatment with ESWL.

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / diagnostic imaging
  • Abdominal Pain / etiology
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Digestive System Diseases / diagnosis
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Recurrence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Ultrasonography
  • Ureteral Calculi / complications
  • Ureteral Calculi / diagnostic imaging*