renal calcifications Flashcards
what are the aka for kidney stones?
renal calculi nephroliths nephrolithiasis uroliths urolithiasis
where are renal calculi located?
collecting system (pelvico-calaceal)
how do renal calculi appear on plain film?
80-90% opaque, usually seen by the naked eye
what do renal calculi look like?
small, homogeneously dense structures that are round, oval or irregular in shape often with a peak
where will you see renal calculi on a lateral film?
overlying the spine, often over the arch OR the posterior aspect of the vertebral bodies
urinary calculi that remain in the Kd are not usually painful unless?
they obstruct
what type of pain is common with urinary calculi?
LBP
what are staghorn calculi and why are they called that?
calcium fills the caylces and renal pelvis and it resembles the horn of a stag, thus “staghorn calculi”
what calculi renders the kidney non-functional, is painful and often presents with blood in the urine?
staghorn calculi
are ureteral calculi visible?
YES 80-90% visible
what do ureteral calculi look like?
homogenous, oval or irregular in shape
what is the size of most ureteral calculi?
1-3mm, occasionally can be 5mm
where are 3 common locations for ureteral calculi to obstruct?
1 L1-L3 paraspinally at the pelvicoureteral junction
2 brim of the pelvis (ilium-sacrum)
3 within 1” of ischial spine superiorly at the vesicoureteral junction* MC location
how do you differentiate between a phlebolith and a ureteral calculi?
most phleboliths are below the ischial spines and won’t move much on future films
what can obstruction from a ureteral calculi cause?
pain and hydronephrosis
what percent on ureteral calculi pass spontaneously?
93% within 3-4 days
what is bladder calculi aka?
vesical calculi
what percent of vesical calculi are seen on plain films and are they usually large or small?
80-90% usually large, small usually overlooked
what is hydronephrosis?
excess fluid in Kd caused by back up of urine
what do vesical calculi look like?
round, oval or stellate (jackstone)
what are the MC causes of vesical calculi?
urinary stasis MC and infection
what population is most effected by vesical calculi?
elderly 98%
where are vesical calculi typically located?
in suprapubic region close to the midline
what would cause vesical calculi to be positioned higher or more lateral?
prostatic hypertrophy or mass in the bladder (carcinoma)
can vesical calculi cause obstruction or irritation?
duh
what are nephrocalcinosis?
small clumps of stippled (punctuated) calcifications in the kidney parenchyma
what is the location of a nephrocalcinosis?
95% medullary
5% cortical
are nephrocalcinosis unilateral or bilateral?
bilateral and widespread
