Imaging in Suspected Renal Colic: Systematic Review of the Literature and Multispecialty Consensus.

Moore CL1, Carpenter CR2, Heilbrun ML3, Klauer K4, Krambeck AC5, Moreno C3, Remer EM6, Scales C7, Shaw MM1, Sternberg KM8.

Author information

1: Departments of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
2: Washington University in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri.
3: Department of Radiology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
4: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee.
5: Department of Urology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
6: Imaging Institute and Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.
7: Division of Urology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina.
8: University of Vermont Medical Center Urology, Burlington, Vermont.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Renal colic is common and CT (computerized tomography) is frequently utilized when the diagnosis of kidney stone is suspected. CT is accurate, but exposes patients to ionizing radiation and has not been shown to alter either interventional approaches or hospital admission rates. This multi-organizational transdisciplinary collaboration sought evidence-based, multispecialty consensus on optimal imaging across different clinical scenarios in patients with suspected renal colic in the acute setting.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

In conjunction with the ACEP (American College of Emergency Physicians®) E-QUAL (Emergency Quality Network) we formed a nine-member panel with three physician representatives each from the ACEP, the ACR® (American College of Radiology) and the AUA (American Urological Association). A systematic literature review was used as the basis for a 3-step modified Delphi process to seek consensus on optimal imaging in 29 specific clinical scenarios.

RESULTS:

From an initial search yielding 6,337 records there were 232 relevant articles of acceptable evidence quality to guide the literature summary. At the completion of the Delphi process consensus, agreement was rated as perfect in 15 (52%), excellent in 8 (28%), good in 3 (10%) and moderate in 3 (10%) of the 29 scenarios. There were no scenarios where at least moderate consensus was not reached. CT was recommended in 7 scenarios (24%) with ultrasound in 9 (31%) and no further imaging needed in 13 (45%).

CONCLUSIONS:

Evidence and multispecialty consensus support ultrasound or no further imaging in specific clinical scenarios, with reduced-radiation dose CT to be employed when CT is needed in patients with suspected renal colic.