Mirela Liana Gliga1, Cristian Nicolae Chirila2, Daniela Maria Podeanu3, Torok Imola4, Sanda Lucia Voicu5, Mihail Gheorghe Gliga6, Paula Maria Gliga7. 1. Internal Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Diaverum Dialysis center, Tirgu Mures, Romania. 2. University of Medicine and Pharmacy Targu Mures, Romania. cristi_nic94@yahoo.com. 3. Department of Radiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Targu Mures, Romania. 4. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Targu Mures, Romania. 5. Department of Pediatrics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Targu Mures, Romania. 6. Department of Physiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Targu Mures, Romania. 7. University of Medicine and Pharmacy Targu Mures, Romania.
Abstract
AIMS: Ultrasound is a noninvasive method used for the diagnosis of urinary lithiasis. When the length of the stone is less than 5 mm, its detection may be difficult. The twinkling artifact (TwA) is an intense alternating color signal behind calcifications and stones in different organs. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the importance of the TwA in detecting kidney stones less than 5 mm in length. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined 230 patients with lumbar pain or a history of kidney stones. We excluded patients with stones larger than 5 mm. 174 patients corresponded to the inclusion criteria. We performed color Doppler ultrasound and we noticed the presence of the twinkling artifact. The gold standard for the diagnosis was either computed tomography (CT) scan, intravenous urography (IVU) or the spontaneous elimination of the stones. RESULTS: We found renal stones in 123 patients. The twinkling artifact was present in 113 cases and absent in the rest of 10 patients. In two patients the artifact was present but the stones were not confirmed by CT. The twinkling artifact had sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 99.12%, 90.91%, 99.12%, and 90.91% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The twinkling artifact is a very useful color Doppler ultrasound tool for the detection of small urinary stones. We suggest the routine use of color Doppler in all suspicious cases in order to avoid unnecessary irradiating and expensive radiological methods.
AIMS: Ultrasound is a noninvasive method used for the diagnosis of urinary lithiasis. When the length of the stone is less than 5 mm, its detection may be difficult. The twinkling artifact (TwA) is an intense alternating color signal behind calcifications and stones in different organs. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the importance of the TwA in detecting kidney stones less than 5 mm in length. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined 230 patients with lumbar pain or a history of kidney stones. We excluded patients with stones larger than 5 mm. 174 patients corresponded to the inclusion criteria. We performed color Doppler ultrasound and we noticed the presence of the twinkling artifact. The gold standard for the diagnosis was either computed tomography (CT) scan, intravenous urography (IVU) or the spontaneous elimination of the stones. RESULTS: We found renal stones in 123 patients. The twinkling artifact was present in 113 cases and absent in the rest of 10 patients. In two patients the artifact was present but the stones were not confirmed by CT. The twinkling artifact had sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 99.12%, 90.91%, 99.12%, and 90.91% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The twinkling artifact is a very useful color Doppler ultrasound tool for the detection of small urinary stones. We suggest the routine use of color Doppler in all suspicious cases in order to avoid unnecessary irradiating and expensive radiological methods.
Authors: Jonathan S Ellison; Matthew Lorenzo; Hunter Beck; Ruth Beck; David I Chu; Christopher Forrest; Jing Huang; Amy Kratchman; Anna Kurth; Laura Kurth; Michael Kurtz; Thomas Lendvay; Renae Sturm; Gregory Tasian Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2022-04-05 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Andrzej Badeński; Omar Bjanid; Marta Badeńska; Bartosz Chmiela; Piotr Adamczyk; Grzegorz Kudela; Grzegorz Moskal; Maria Szczepańska Journal: Pediatr Nephrol Date: 2020-07-21 Impact factor: 3.714