Perspective of radiologists and urologists on diagnostic accuracy in detecting urolithiasis

Abstract

Urolithiasis is a condition caused by calculi formation in the urinary tract. Both IVU and nonenhanced CT of the kidneys, ureters and bladder have been used to diagnosis this pathology. Yet, the role of CT has radically increased over the past five years in the diagnosis of this condition whilst IVU is minimally used or obsolete and a number of centres worldwide are starting to use CT as the gold standard technique (Teichman, 2004). However, this is not the case at the general hospital in Malta where NSCT imaging is often used when IVU results are unequivocal. The objective of this research study is to evaluate the reasons for this by obtaining the perspective of all the radiologists and urologists; employed at the general hospital; on diagnostic accuracy of NSCT and IVU. The majority of radiologists had opposing opinions regarding this topic especially when discussing radiation dose, cost effectiveness and availability of staff and the CT scanner because in their opinion the former mentioned issues are the reasons NSCT is not the gold standard examination and will not supersede independently without IVU. On the other hand, the opinion given by the urologists corroborated with what each other claimed; that NSCT is the more superior method and may supersede independently without IVU. It was stated by a number of radiologists that there is lack of communication and discussion between the referrers (urologists) and the receivers (radiologists).