PURPOSE: The aim of this research was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of urgent CT KUBs and assess the appropriateness of their use in the investigation of acute renal colic at King Fahad specialist hospital , Buraydah, Saudi Arabia 2022.
METHODS: All data were collected retrospectively from patient’s records including all patients who presented to the emergency and inpatients undergo unenhanced CT KUB to rule out urinary tract stones . Follow-up requests of known urolithiasis and any scan done for other clinical indications were excluded ,representing 3.7% .
RESULTS:
This study reviewed 1671 patients, 24.9% were aged between 31 and 40 years old, with nearly 60% being males. Most patients were admitted to ER (98%) and referred by non-urology physicians (99%). The prevalence of patients who were diagnosed with renal stones was 38.7%. Among patients who were presented with acute renal colic and CT scan revealed no urolithiasis, there was 11% with incidental and other alternative diagnosis. The most common finding was genitourinary diseases (48.9%), followed by gastrointestinal diseases (27.2%).
CONCLUSION:
The significant percentage of negative CT KUB of the examined patients reflects the physicians misapplication with this technique with a subsequent reduction in the rate of renal calculi detection with unnecessary radiation exposure as well as increased the alternative/incidental of extraordinary findings, which may indicate further emergency abdominal CT studies. Therefore, urology opinion before CT-KUB requested for patients with atypical presentation is highly advised. Additionally , departmental ultrasound is suggested mainly for the young females prior to CT scan to rule out any gynecological conditions that can mimic renal stones.
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