Acute flank pain secondary to urolithiasis: radiologic evaluation and alternate diagnoses

Gaurav Jindal; Parvati Ramchandani

doi:10.1016/j.rcl.2007.04.001

Acute flank pain secondary to urolithiasis: radiologic evaluation and alternate diagnoses

Radiol Clin North Am. 2007 May;45(3):395-410, vii. doi: 10.1016/j.rcl.2007.04.001.

Authors

Gaurav Jindal¹, Parvati Ramchandani

Affiliation

¹ Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

PMID: 17601499
DOI: 10.1016/j.rcl.2007.04.001

Abstract

This article discusses the radiologic management of the patient who has acute flank pain. It describes the evolution of radiologic imaging in patients who present with acute symptoms caused by suspected urolithiasis, the advantages of unenhanced helical CT and the limitations of abdominal radiography, intravenous urography, and ultrasonography in this setting, and the alternative diagnoses encountered within the urinary tract, abdomen, and pelvis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Acute Disease
Colic / diagnosis
Colic / etiology
Diagnosis, Differential
Female
Flank Pain / etiology*
Humans
Kidney Diseases / diagnosis
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
Male
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications / diagnosis
Radiography, Abdominal / methods
Sensitivity and Specificity
Tomography, Spiral Computed / methods
Ultrasonography
Urinary Tract / diagnostic imaging
Urinary Tract / pathology
Urography / methods
Urolithiasis / diagnosis*