Renal colic: is intravenous urography really necessary?

A prospective study was performed in 47 patients suspected of having renal colic to determine the diagnostic value of ultrasonography in nephrolithiasis. The urinary tract was examined in the attempt to locate the stone and its possible complications (urinoma and functional obstruction). Ultrasound confirmed the diagnosis in 84% of the cases by detecting the stone (n=29) or edema in the ureterovesical junction resulting from its spontaneous expulsion (n=3). It disclosed 80% of the clinically significant urinomas and ruled out functional obstruction with a sensitivity of 87% and a specificity of 100%. Ultrasonography may render unnecessary additional diagnostic tests in those cases in which it confirms the diagnosis and functional obstruction is ruled out. (Author) 19 refs