Distinguishing pelvic phleboliths from distal ureteral calculi: thin-slice CT findings

• Published in: European radiology Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 65 - 70
• Main Authors: Arac, Mehmet, Celik, Halil, Oner, A Yusuf, Gultekin, Serap, Gumus, Terman, Kosar, Sule
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Springer Nature B.V 01-01-2005
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Algorithms; Bone imaging; Calcification; Computed tomography; Contours; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Image reconstruction; Imaging techniques; Kidney stones; Lithiasis - diagnostic imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Pain; Patients; Pelvis - diagnostic imaging; Predictive Value of Tests; Problem solving; Questionnaires; Roundness; Sensitivity and Specificity; Stone; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods; Ureteral Calculi - diagnostic imaging
• ISSN: 0938-7994; 1432-1084
• DOI: 10.1007/s00330-004-2511-1

The objective is to evaluate the appearance of phleboliths and distal ureteral stones by determining their roundness and presence of central lucency on thin-slice CT. Seventy-seven patients with pelvic radioopacities at unenhanced CT were selected. Those patients consequently underwent thin-slice CT with 1-mm collimation, a FOV of 10 cm, a pitch of 1:1 and a bone reconstruction algorithm. Three radiologists reviewed all images for roundness and the presence of central radiolucency. No calculi showed central lucency on either imaging technique used. Thin-slice CT revealed central lucency in 60% of phleboliths with 100% specificity. Three of 40 ureteral stones showed round contour. Thin-slice CT revealed a round contour in 97% of phleboliths with 93% specificity. Central lucency is a characteristic finding of pelvic phleboliths on thin-slice CT. This finding can therefore be used in combination with roundness as a problem-solving tool in differentiating phleboliths from distal ureteral stones.