Distal Ureteral Calculi: The Usefulness of Transrectal Ultrasound and Comparision with Intravenous Urography

Choi, Moon Hae; Yoon, Dae Young; Shim, Joo Eun; Kim, Ho Chul; Yi, Jeong Geun; Choi, Chul Sun; Bae, Sang Hoon; Kim, Ha Young

Abstract

PURPOSE
To determine the usefulness of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) and to compare TRUS with intravenousurography (IVU) in the evaluation of distal ureteral calculi.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
TRUS and IVU were perfomed in 24 patients with distal ureteral calculi. Using TRUS, we evaluated the presence and size of calculus, type of ureteral jet at the affected site and diameter of ureter proximal to calculus, and using IVU evaluated the presence and size of calculus, degree of ureteral obstruction, and degree of hydroureter. TRUS and IVU findings, were compared.
RESULTS
In each patient, TRUS detected calculus of the distal ureter ; in only 18cases (75%),were the calculi demonstrated with IVU. In 18 cases where calculi were detected by both modalities, average calculus size was 4.5 X 3.0mm (longest and shortest dimensions) by IVU, and 6.1 X 3.7 mm by TRUS. Betwee TRUS and IVU(p<0.05) there was a statistically significant difference in the longest dimension of calculi. Color Doppler imaging revealed three patterns of ureteral jets in TRUS : normal periodic jet (7 cases) ; continuous low-levelflow (8 cases) ; and no detectable jet (9 cases). There was a positive correlation between type of ureteral jetson TRUS and between degree of obstruction on IVU (r=0.59, p<0.05). There was, however, no significant correlation between diameter of ureter proximal to calculus on TRUS and degree of hydroureter on IVU (r=0.32, p>0.05).
CONCLUSION
TRUS appears to be a useful adjunctive method for the evaluation of distal ureteral calculus.