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IntroductionIntravenous Urography (IVU) and Retrograde Pyelography (RP) are important diagnostic imaging techniques used to evaluate the urinary system. These methods help identify structural abnormalities, obstructions, and functional issues in the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. Both procedures use iodine-based contrast media to enhance the visibility of urinary tract structures on X-ray images, though they differ in their methods and indications.1. Intravenous Urography (IVU)Intravenous...

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The diagnosis of renal calculi involves several imaging techniques, including non-contrast CT scans and ultrasound. These methods help visualize kidney stones, assess their size and location, and detect possible obstructions. Additionally, Measuring urine pH is useful for diagnosing specific stone types, such as struvite (alkaline pH) and uric acid stones (acidic pH). Cystine stones are primarily linked to cystinuria, a genetic condition. A urinalysis helps detect blood in the urine (hematuria)...

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Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Point-of-Care Kidney and Genitourinary Ultrasound in Adults: Image Acquisition

Point-of-Care Kidney and Genitourinary Ultrasound in Adults: Image Acquisition

Published on: June 21, 2024

Urolithiasis: how accurate are plain radiographs?

V O Chan¹, O Buckley, T Persaud

¹Department of Radiology, The Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland.

Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal = Journal L'Association Canadienne Des Radiologistes

|August 14, 2008

Summary

The kidneys, ureters, and bladder (KUB) radiograph shows low sensitivity for diagnosing urolithiasis. While specific, KUB is not a reliable primary imaging tool for detecting kidney stones compared to unenhanced helical computerized tomography (UHCT).

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Area of Science:

Radiology
Urology
Medical Imaging

Background:

Urolithiasis, or kidney stones, is a common condition requiring accurate diagnosis.
The kidneys, ureters, and bladder (KUB) radiograph has traditionally been used for stone detection.
Unenhanced helical computerized tomography (UHCT) is considered the gold standard for diagnosing urolithiasis.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the diagnostic value of KUB radiography in comparison to UHCT for urolithiasis.
To assess the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of KUB for detecting kidney stones.

Main Methods:

A retrospective analysis of 100 patients with suspected urolithiasis was conducted.
Patients underwent both KUB and UHCT within a 3-hour interval.
Radiologists assessed KUB and UHCT findings blindly, comparing results on a stone-by-stone basis.

Main Results:

KUB demonstrated a low sensitivity of 18.6% for detecting urolithiasis.
Specificity of KUB was high at 95.1%.
Positive predictive value was 84.6%, and negative predictive value was 44.8%.

Conclusions:

KUB radiography exhibits very low sensitivity in diagnosing urolithiasis.
Despite low sensitivity, KUB offers acceptable specificity for stone detection.
UHCT is a more reliable imaging modality for the diagnosis of urolithiasis.