1.25.2008

Low Dose Computed Tomography For The Evaluation Of Flank Pain In The Pregnant Population

UroToday.com- The diagnosis and treatment of the pregnant patient presenting with acute renal colic remain a vexing problem for the urologist. Classically, this has led to an ultrasound study, which if nondiagnostic, led to a 3 shot intravenous urogram. If a stone was present, then one of three approaches was most commonly selected: watchful waiting, ureteral stent placement, or percutaneous nephrostomy. Neither the diagnosis of the condition nor the treatment was truly satisfactory. Ultrasound failed to show a stone in upwards of 50% of patients who had a stone; the subsequent intravenous urogram was also often nondiagnostic. Similarly, treatment with ureteral stent or nephrostomy tube was less than optimal as this approach required changing of the stent or tube every 6-8 weeks during the pregnancy in order to prevent at times, massive encrustation. Today, this has all changed for the better given the advent of low dose CT scanning and ureteroscopy.

MedicalNewsToday

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