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A stone down below: a urethral stone causing acute urinary retention and renal failure
Hanna Bielawska1, Norman L Epstein
1Emergency Department, Credit Valley Hospital, 2200 Eglinton Avenue W., Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. hanna.bielawska@utoronto.ca
CJEM
|July 24, 2010
Summary
Urethral stones are rare but can be missed even with CT scans. Prompt diagnosis and management are crucial for impacted urethral stones, a complication of nephrolithiasis.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Radiology
Background:
- Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) is common, but impaction in the male urethra is rare.
- Literature on urethral stones is scarce, presenting diagnostic challenges.
Observation:
- A 48-year-old man presented with an impacted urethral stone.
- The condition was overlooked twice, despite computed tomography (CT) imaging showing the stone in the prostatic urethra.
Findings:
- This case highlights diagnostic difficulties in identifying impacted urethral stones.
- Computed tomography interpretation requires careful evaluation of both upper and lower genitourinary tracts.
Implications:
- Emergency physicians play a key role in diagnosing and managing urethral stones.
- Comprehensive imaging review is essential for accurate diagnosis of renal colic complications.
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