 |
| Image Source: nytimes.com |
For the initial
diagnosis of kidney stones, ultrasounds may be a better choice than CT
scans, a new study has found. Both techniques may be effective, but CT
scans are more expensive and deliver a large dose of radiation.
For the study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine,
researchers randomly assigned 2,759 people presenting with symptoms of
kidney stones in the emergency room to one of three groups:
ultrasonography by the E.R. doctor, ultrasonography by a radiologist, or
a CT scan.
There were no
significant differences among the groups in serious adverse events,
average pain score after seven days, return visits to the E.R.,
hospitalizations, or diagnostic accuracy. Some patients in the
ultrasound group went on to have CT scans as well, but even among the
majority who did not, there was no difference in outcomes.
The lead author, Dr.
Rebecca Smith-Bindman, a professor of radiology and epidemiology at the
University of California, San Francisco, said that there were some
findings on ultrasound that might need a CT scan as a follow-up. But for
the initial diagnosis, “this is a clinical area where we now do CT
scans and can safely replace them with ultrasound. If patients know that
it is a good option, they can ask for it. This is a good place for
patients to become their own advocates.”
Dr. Paul Frymoyer is a recognized authority in nephrology and other healthcare matters. He has saved countless lives in Africa through his expertise and experience, and continues to deliver quality healthcare services to nephrology patients. Visit this Facebook page for more information about his practice.
