Rationale and Comments

Kidney stones can cause severe pain (called renal colic) and nausea, which can usually be relieved with medication. Most stones pass spontaneously in the urine in a few days, though kidney stones often do recur. CT scans may be needed to diagnose kidney stones, and rule out other problems that may mimic the pain of kidney stones. Many patients in the emergency department who are less than 50 years old and who have symptoms of recurrent kidney stones do not need a CT scan unless these symptoms persist or worsen, or if there is a fever or a history of severe obstruction with previous stones. CT scans of patients in the ED with symptoms of recurrent kidney stones usually do not change treatment decisions, and the cost and radiation exposure can often be avoided in these cases. Close follow-up by a primary care physician or specialist is necessary.

Sponsoring Organizations

• American College of Emergency Physicians

Sources

• Expert consensus

Disciplines

• Urologic

References

• Ha M, MacDonald RD. Impact of CT scan in patients with first episode of suspected nephrolithiasis. J Emerg Med. 2004 Oct;27(3):225-31.
  
• Ripollés T, Agramunt M, Errando J, Martínez MJ, Coronel B, Morales M. Suspected ureteral colic: plain film and sonography versus unenhanced helical CT. A prospective study in 66 patients. Eur Radiol. 2004 Jan;14(1):129-36.
  
• Pfister SA, Deckart A, Laschke S, Dellas S, Otto U, Buitrago C, Roth J, Wiesner W, Bongartz G, Gasser TC. Unenhanced helical computed tomography vs intravenous urography in patients with acute flank pain: accuracy and economic impact in a randomized prospective trial. Eur Radiol. 2003 Nov;13(11):2513-20.
  
• Katz SI, Saluja S, Brink JA, Forman HP. Radiation dose associated with unenhanced CT for suspected renal colic: impact of repetitive studies. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2006 Apr;186(4):1120-4.