Abstract:
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
The Hounsfield unit (HU) is a unit of radio density used universally to interpret
computed tomography (CT) images. Nephrolithiasis is an extremely common and
very often painful urological disorder, with the lifetime risk estimated to be as high as
10–15%. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is the most commonly
employed technique that is used in the management of renal stones; however, the
success of this technique depends heavily on the chemical composition of the calculus
and its fragility. Hence, the pre-treatment identification of the composition of calculi
becomes extremely important. Even though there is currently insufficient data
available regarding the usefulness of knowing the chemical composition
pre-operatively for assessing the efficacy of percutaneous nephrolithotomy,
ureterorenoscopic ureterolithotripsy and medical expulsive treatment, it might assist
urologists to decide which of these treatments should be used to treat a patient.
Given the lack of a standard non-invasive investigative modality to achieve this
composition identification pre-operatively and given that various reports in the past
that have had varying success when using CT and HU values to determine the
composition of urinary calculi, the aim of our study was to determine HU values and
the chemical composition of renal stones in a cohort of our patients and to then
correlate HU value with urine pH and also to compare the results with stone analysis
done in biochemistry lab.
