RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN URINARY STONES AND GRADE OF HYDRONEPHROSIS USING CT
Keywords:
Urolithiasis, Hydronephrosis, CT-KUB, Urinary Stones, Stone Size and Stone Location.Abstract
Background:
Urinary stone disease (urolithiasis) is a common global health problem and a major cause of urinary tract obstruction leading to hydronephrosis. Hydronephrosis occurs as a result of obstruction caused by urinary stones and may lead to renal damage if untreated. The severity of hydronephrosis varies depending on several factors, including stone size, location, and number. Understanding this relationship is essential for early diagnosis and proper management.
Objectives:
- To evaluate urinary stone characteristics (size, location, and number) using CT-KUB.
- To determine the relationship between urinary stones and grades of hydronephrosis.
Methodology:
An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in the Radiology Department of RYK Hospitals over a duration of 4 months. A total of 150 patients with confirmed urinary stones on non-contrast CT-KUB were included using consecutive sampling. Data regarding stone size, location, number, and hydronephrosis grade were collected and analyzed using SPSS. Statistical tests including regression analysis were applied, with p < 0.05 considered significant.
Results:
The mean stone size was 13.3 ± 9.2 mm. Hydronephrosis was present in 76.7% of patients out of 150, with Grade 1 being the most frequent. A statistically significant positive relationship was observed between stone size and hydronephrosis grade (p < 0.001). Stone location also showed a strong association, with pelvico-ureteric junction (PUJ) stones predominantly causing severe hydronephrosis (Grades 3 and 4). In contrast, the number of stones did not demonstrate a significant relationship with hydronephrosis severity (p = 0.487).
Conclusion:
CT-KUB is an effective modality for evaluating urinary stones and associated hydronephrosis. Stone size and location are significant predictors of hydronephrosis severity, whereas stone number is not. These findings can assist in early diagnosis and better clinical management of patients with urolithiasis.
