Case series demonstrating the clinical utility of dual energy computed tomography in patients requiring stents for urinary calculi

Can J Urol. 2014 Feb;21(1):7166-70.

Abstract

Dual energy computed tomography (DECT) utilizes the material change in attenuation when imaged at two different energies to determine the composition of urinary calculi as uric acid or non-uric acid. We discuss a series of case reports illustrating DECT's ability to provide immediate determination of uric acid versus non-uric acid calculi and facilitate more informed clinical decision-making. Further, these cases demonstrate a unique population of patients with ureteral stents and percutaneous nephrostomy tubes that benefit from DECT's ability to create a virtual color contrast between an indwelling device and the stone material and thereby significantly impacting patient morbidity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kidney Calculi / chemistry
  • Kidney Calculi / diagnostic imaging*
  • Kidney Calculi / therapy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Stents*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*
  • Ureteral Calculi / chemistry
  • Ureteral Calculi / diagnostic imaging*
  • Ureteral Calculi / therapy
  • Uric Acid / analysis

Substances

  • Uric Acid