The use of computed tomography as the first imaging modality in patients with renal colic and microscopic haematuria

Abstract

Objective We aimed to evaluate the use of computed tomography (CT) as the first imaging modality in patients with renal colic and microscopic haematuria.

Methodology The patients that presented to the emergency service of six health centers with renal colic between January 2017 and January 2018 and were found to have microscopic hematuria on urinalysis were retrospectively evaluated. Only patients for whom non-contrast CT was used as the first imaging modality were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups according to the stone presence (stone +, stone -) and the groups were compared in terms of demographics and clinical characteristics of patients.

Results A total of 834 patients were included in the study and 711 (85.3%) were diagnosed with urolithiasis. CT also revealed additional pathology in 26 (3.1%) patients. The male patients had a significantly higher rate of stones than female patients (89.5% vs 75.2%; P < .001) and the BMI values were also significantly higher in the male patients compared with the females (27.0 +/- 2.1 vs 25.0 +/- 4.0, P < .001). Right renal colic was more common in female patients and the rate of left renal colic was significantly higher in male patients. The male patients diagnosed with stone disease required treatment at a higher rate than the female patients (P = .005).

Conclusions Because of its high sensitivity and specificity values in the diagnosis of stone disease, easy applicability and fast results, CT can be safely used as the first imaging modality for the diagnosis of renal colic and microscopic haematuria.