Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Estimation of Urinary Nanocrystals in Humans using Calcium Fluorophore Labeling and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis
Published on: February 9, 2021
Dual-energy computed tomography with advanced postimage acquisition data processing: improved determination of
Michael N Ferrandino1, Sean A Pierre, Walter Neal Simmons
1Division of Urology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA. michael.ferrandino@duke.edu
Dual-energy CT (DECT) effectively differentiates urinary stone compositions using advanced postprocessing. This noninvasive imaging technique aids in selecting optimal treatments for kidney stones.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Radiology
- Urology
Background:
- Noninvasive urinary stone characterization can guide clinical management.
- Computed tomography (CT) is standard but struggles to differentiate stone types.
- Dual-energy CT (DECT) offers improved anatomical and compositional characterization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate DECT's accuracy in distinguishing various urinary calculus compositions.
- To utilize novel post-image acquisition processing for enhanced stone analysis.
Main Methods:
- Fifty urinary calculi (44 with >60% single component) were analyzed.
- DECT was performed using 64-slice multidetector CT.
- Attenuation profiles from low- and high-energy datasets were compared.
Main Results:
- Post-processing successfully identified main urinary stone compositions: brushite, calcium oxalate-calcium phosphate, struvite, cystine, and uric acid.
- Statistical analysis confirmed accurate identification of all stone types without overlap.
Conclusions:
- DECT with postprocessing accurately discriminates major urinary calculus subtypes in vitro.
- Improved stone composition detection via noninvasive radiology can inform optimal treatment selection.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Imaging Studies III: Computed Tomography
Urinary Tract Calculi III: Medical Management
Imaging Studies V: Intravenous Urography and Retrograde Pyelography
Urinary Tract Calculi VI: Surgical Management
Imaging Studies II: Ultrasonography
Imaging Studies I: Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder Studies
