TY - JOUR

T1 - Imaging patients with renal colic—consider ultrasound first

AU - Nicolau, Carlos

AU - Claudon, Michel

AU - Derchi, Lorenzo E.

AU - Adam, E. Jane

AU - Nielsen, Michael Bachmann

AU - Mostbeck, Gerhard

AU - Owens, Catherine M.

AU - Nyhsen, Christiane

AU - Yarmenitis, Spyros

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2015, The Author(s).

PY - 2015/8/29

Y1 - 2015/8/29

N2 - Abstract: Renal colic is a common disease in Europe and a common cause of visit to the Emergency Department. Clinical diagnosis is usually confirmed by imaging modalities. Unenhanced computed tomography (CT) is considered the best diagnostic test due to its excellent accuracy detecting ureteral stones. However, ultrasound (US) should be considered as the primary imaging technique. It is a reproducible, non-invasive and non-expensive imaging technique, achieving accurate diagnosis in most cases without the need for radiation. Diagnosis is based on the presence of ureteral stones, but indirect findings such as the asymmetry or absence of ureteric jet, an increase of the resistive index or a colour Doppler twinkling artefact may help to suggest the diagnosis when the stone is not identified. Main Messages: • Renal colic diagnosis is usually confirmed by imaging modalities. • Imaging diagnosis of renal colic is based on the detection of ureteral stones. • CT is the most accurate imaging technique to identify ureteral stones. • US allows correct diagnosis in most cases without using radiation. • US should be used as the first imaging modality in patients with renal colic.

AB - Abstract: Renal colic is a common disease in Europe and a common cause of visit to the Emergency Department. Clinical diagnosis is usually confirmed by imaging modalities. Unenhanced computed tomography (CT) is considered the best diagnostic test due to its excellent accuracy detecting ureteral stones. However, ultrasound (US) should be considered as the primary imaging technique. It is a reproducible, non-invasive and non-expensive imaging technique, achieving accurate diagnosis in most cases without the need for radiation. Diagnosis is based on the presence of ureteral stones, but indirect findings such as the asymmetry or absence of ureteric jet, an increase of the resistive index or a colour Doppler twinkling artefact may help to suggest the diagnosis when the stone is not identified. Main Messages: • Renal colic diagnosis is usually confirmed by imaging modalities. • Imaging diagnosis of renal colic is based on the detection of ureteral stones. • CT is the most accurate imaging technique to identify ureteral stones. • US allows correct diagnosis in most cases without using radiation. • US should be used as the first imaging modality in patients with renal colic.

KW - Computed Tomography

KW - Hydronephrosis

KW - Renal colic

KW - Ultrasound

KW - Ureteral calculi

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84938384233&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s13244-015-0396-y

DO - 10.1007/s13244-015-0396-y

M3 - Editorial

AN - SCOPUS:84938384233

VL - 6

SP - 441

EP - 447

JO - Insights into Imaging

JF - Insights into Imaging

SN - 1869-4101

IS - 4

ER -