Comparing the Diagnostic Value of MRU and CT scan in Diagnosing the Etiology and Severity of Urinary Tract Obstruction in Patients with Renal Colic

Background and Many emergency referrals are due to renal colic which is more frequently caused by nephrolithiasis. Imaging techniques have a key role in diagnosis and treatment of this disease. There are some limitations associated with these techniques, so this study aimed at comparing the diagnostic value of CTU and MRU for the diagnosis of the obstructions of urinary tract. This study was conducted in 30 patients with renal colic and heamaturia attending Imam khomaeini Hospital, Sari. The selected subjects were patients with suspicions of obstruction of the urinary tract whom diagnosis were not confirmed through ultrasonography. The sample consisted of 30 patients (24 male and 6 female) with a mean age of 46.8. The sensitivity of MRU and CTU without contrast agent were 50% and 90%, respectively and the specificity of both methods was 100%. The findings also showed that MRU and CT scan without contrast agent had relatively good agreement (66.7%, Kappa=0.33) for the accurate diagnosis of renal colic and 100% agreement rate (Kappa=1) for the diagnosis of urinary tract obstruction and renal hydronephrosis. Our results showed that the MRU is a suitable alternative and efficient method for CTU in the renal colic cases. Because in this method the exposure to X-Ray is less which could be more appropriate during pregnancy and in uremic patients.