Non Contrast Helical Ct Scan for Acute Flank Pain: Non Calculus Urinary and Extra Urinary Causes

Objective: To determine the value of non contrast helical CT in the diagnosis of non calculus renal and extraurinary causes of acute flank pain. Design: A prospective descriptive study. Place and duration of study: Radiology Department, Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi from January 2005 to June 2005. Subjects and methods: 130 consecutive patients with acute flank pain underwent Noncontrast enhanced helical CT scan (NHCT). 100(73%) were male and 30(23%) were female. Scans were observed for noncalculus renal and extraurinary causes of acute flank pain. Results: Out of 130 patients, 30 patients were excluded. In 23(23%) patients non calculus causes of pain were diagnosed. In 5 (5%) patients incidental findings were recorded which were most likely not cause of pain. Three patients had non calculus renal abnormalities which included renal cell carcinoma, horseshoe kidney adult polycystic kidney disease. Conclusion: The accurate and timely diagnosis of an obstructing ureteral calculus, a non calculus urinary abnormality or an extra urinary tract pathology, establishes non contrast helical CT as the diagnostic study of choice for the evaluation of patients with flank pain.