The X-ray information is sent to a computer that interprets the X-ray data and displays it in a two-dimensional 2D form on a monitor. CT scans may be done with or without "contrast. Contrast examinations may require you to fast for a certain period of time before the procedure. Your doctor will notify you of this prior to the procedure. CT scans of the kidneys are useful in the examination of one or both of the kidneys to detect conditions such as tumors or other lesions, obstructive conditions, such as kidney stones, congenital anomalies, polycystic kidney disease, accumulation of fluid around the kidneys, and the location of abscesses.
Other related procedures that may be used to diagnose kidney problems include KUB X-rays , kidney biopsy , kidney scan , kidney ultrasound , renal angiogram , and renal venogram. The body takes nutrients from food and converts them to energy. After the body has taken the food that it needs, waste products are left behind in the bowel and in the blood. The kidneys and urinary system keep chemicals, such as potassium and sodium, and water in balance, and remove a type of waste, called urea, from the blood.
Urea is produced when foods containing protein, such as meat, poultry, and certain vegetables, are broken down in the body. Urea is carried in the bloodstream to the kidneys. Two kidneys, a pair of purplish-brown organs, are located below the ribs toward the middle of the back. Their function is to:. The kidneys remove urea from the blood through tiny filtering units called nephrons. Each nephron consists of a ball formed of small blood capillaries, called a glomerulus, and a small tube called a renal tubule.
Urea, together with water and other waste substances, forms the urine as it passes through the nephrons and down the renal tubules of the kidney. A CT scan of the kidney may be performed to assess the kidneys for tumors and other lesions, obstructions such as kidney stones , abscesses, polycystic kidney disease , and congenital anomalies, particularly when another type of examination, such as X-rays or physical examination, is not conclusive.
CT scans of the kidney may be used to evaluate the retroperitoneum the back portion of the abdomen behind the peritoneal membrane. CT scans of the kidney may be used to assist in needle placement in kidney biopsies. After the removal of a kidney, CT scans may be used to locate abnormal masses in the empty space where the kidney once was. CT scans of the kidneys may be performed after kidney transplants to evaluate the size and location of the new kidney in relation to the bladder.
You may want to ask your doctor about the amount of radiation used during the CT procedure and the risks related to your particular situation. It is a good idea to keep a record of your past history of radiation exposure, such as previous CT scans and other types of X-rays, so that you can inform your doctor.
If you are pregnant or suspect that you may be pregnant, you should notify your doctor. Radiation exposure during pregnancy may lead to birth defects. If contrast media is used, there is a risk for allergic reaction to the media. Patients who are allergic to or sensitive to medications should notify their doctor. Doctors may choose a CT scan in an emergency because it allows them to make a quick decision. A CT scan uses x-ray beams to capture images from different angles.
A computer processes the information and produces three-dimensional pictures of the area scanned. A scanner will rotate around your body and send x-rays to the part being studied. The x-ray data is then sent to a computer and processed. Your doctor can look for kidney stones as they examine the CT scan images. They can also look for kidney tumors, lesions or other conditions. X-rays are used less frequently than CT scans because they can miss small kidney stones.
However, your doctor might recommend an x-ray first to look for large kidney stones or the presence of many stones. During an x-ray for kidney stones, you will either lie on a table or stand. The technologist will place the x-ray machine near your abdomen and ask you to hold your breath while the x-rays pass through your body.
This information can be used to identify patients in whom dissolution therapy may be valuable. We identified an association between abdominal aortic calcifications and a higher risk of low urine pH and hypocitraturia. Patients with low vertebral bone mineral density on CT were more likely to have large stone volumes, hypercalciuria and hypocitraturia. If a CT scan is ordered, we should put it to good use. Opportunistic CT imaging does not add cost or radiation exposure, nor does it require additional equipment.
It can identify potentially significant comorbidities that may require further evaluation and management e. It can predict underlying metabolic abnormalities, suggest kidney stone preventive strategies and identify those best suited for a trial of dissolution therapy. Your doctor may use abdominal and pelvic CT, intravenous pyelogram, or abdominal or pelvic ultrasound to help diagnose your condition. If a stone blocks urine flow and drainage of the kidney, your doctor may restore urine flow using ureteral stenting or nephrostomy.
Kidney or bladder stones are solid build-ups of crystals made from minerals and proteins found in urine. Bladder diverticulum , enlarged prostate, neurogenic bladder and urinary tract infection can cause an individual to have a greater chance of developing bladder stones. If a kidney stone becomes lodged in the ureter or urethra , it can cause constant severe pain in the back or side, vomiting, hematuria blood in the urine , fever, or chills.
If bladder stones are small enough, they can pass on their own with no noticeable symptoms. However, once they become larger, bladder stones can cause frequent urges to urinate, painful or difficult urination and hematuria.
Imaging is used to provide your doctor with valuable information about the kidney or bladder stones, such as location, size and effect on the function of the kidneys. Some types of imaging that your doctor may order include:. For more information about ultrasound performed on children, visit the pediatric abdominal ultrasound page.
If a stone blocks urine flow and drainage of the kidney, there are a variety of possible treatments. An option that your doctor may choose is:.
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