Predicting urinary stone composition based on single-energy noncontrast computed tomography: the challenge of cystine.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To study several measurements from a single-energy noncontrast computed tomography (NCCT) that may distinguish calcium oxalate, uric acid, and cystine stones.

METHODS:

Patients with pure urinary stones who had at least 1 single-energy NCCT before the stone composition analysis from January 2008 to December 2012 were enrolled in this study. The analyzed data comprised stone size, volume, core Hounsfield unit (HU), periphery HU, absolute and relative HU differences between core and periphery, and HU density. After these measurements, an NCCT bone window was subjectively evaluated to study the homogeneity of each stone from core to periphery. The Spearman correlation test was used to determine the correlation between HU values and stone size and volume for each group.

RESULTS:

A total of 113 patients were found with pure urinary stones who also had a corresponding NCCT. There were 36, 47, and 30 patients in the calcium oxalate, uric acid, and cystine groups, respectively. The core HU, periphery HU, absolute and relative HU differences, and HU density were significantly different among the 3 groups (P<.001). Stone size and volume had a positive correlation with core and periphery HUs only for calcium oxalate and cystine stones. The subjective evaluation of the urinary calculi revealed a different pattern for each stone composition.

CONCLUSION:

Single-energy NCCT may predict calcium oxalate stones with a high degree of accuracy. There is an overlap in radiographic profiles of cystine and uric acid stones, making a definitive differentiation more challenging.

• Authors: Fabio Cesar Miranda Torricelli, Giovanni Scala Marchini, Shubha De, Kleiton G R Yamaçake, Eduardo Mazzucchi, Manoj Monga
• Journal: Urology (Urology) Vol. 83 Issue 6 Pg. 1258-63 (Jun 2014) ISSN: 1527-9995 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24726314 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Calcium Oxalate
• Uric Acid
• Cystine

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Calcium Oxalate (analysis, chemistry)
• Calculi (chemistry, diagnostic imaging)
• Cohort Studies
• Cystine (analysis, chemistry)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• ROC Curve
• Retrospective Studies
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed (methods)
• Uric Acid (analysis, chemistry)
• Urolithiasis (diagnostic imaging, therapy)