Evaluation of the accuracy of low dose CT in the detection of urolithiasis in comparison to standard dose CT

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of low dose CT in the detection of urolithiasis in comparison with standard-dose CT as a reference test. Materials and Methods: This prospective randomized study was conducted on 30 patients with suspected renal colic undergone standard and low dose CT from September 2018 to September 2019 at AL-Zahraa University Hospital. The patients were scanned by the Toshiba CT system, 160 slices using automated tube current modulation; the computed tomography was performed without oral or intravenous contrast. Results: This study enrolled 30 patients who had renal colic symptoms and signs and had a urinary stone that detected in standard-dose CT, the mean of age was (43.83±11.45). The male percentage was (56.7%) while the female percentage was (43.3%). This study was revealed that 55 stones were detected by SDCT and 53 stones were detected by LDCT, so there was a statistically significant agreement between the two modalities in the detection of urolithiasis with Kappa value of (0.868) and p-value(<0.001**). The mean current tube was (416.0±79.1) and (135.2±25.7) in SDCT and LDCT respectively. The radiation dose was (120 and 80) in SDCT &LDCT respectively. Sensitivity was (96.4%) and specificity was (100%) in LDCT. Conclusion: This study revealed that LDCT was an effective technique in the detection of urolithiasis with high sensitivity and specificity despite a significant reduction in radiation dose exposure to SDCT.