Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

Point-of-Care Kidney and Genitourinary Ultrasound in Adults: Image Acquisition
03:19

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

Published on: June 21, 2024

[Urolithiasis in children: diagnostic difficulties]

Angela La Manna, Andrea Apicella, Giovanni Cangiano

    Giornale Italiano Di Nefrologia : Organo Ufficiale Della Societa Italiana Di Nefrologia
    |July 9, 2013
    PubMed

    Insights

    Pediatric urolithiasis is rising due to diet. Many children with stone risk factors show symptoms, but imaging may miss subtle signs, highlighting the need for careful diagnosis.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatric Nephrology
    • Urology
    • Diagnostic Imaging

    Context:

    • Increasing incidence of pediatric urolithiasis in developed nations.
    • Dietary changes as a primary contributing factor.
    • Prevalence of urinary solute abnormalities in children.

    Purpose:

    • To investigate the discrepancy between suggestive symptoms and imaging findings in pediatric urolithiasis.
    • To highlight the limitations of current diagnostic imaging techniques.
    • To emphasize the importance of considering urolithiasis in children with abdominal pain and family history.

    Summary:

    • Children with urinary abnormalities predisposing to stone formation but normal imaging present symptoms 9x more often than overt disease.
    • Limitations in renal ultrasound and X-ray sensitivity, sub-detectable urinary crystals, and post-calculi passage imaging contribute to this gap.
    • Proper urine collection technique is crucial for accurate diagnosis.

    Impact:

    • Suggests a higher prevalence of subclinical or early-stage urolithiasis in children than previously recognized.
    • Underscores the need for heightened clinical suspicion for urolithiasis, even without classic symptoms.
    • May inform revised diagnostic protocols for pediatric abdominal pain.

    More Related Videos

    Handheld Metal Detector Screening for Metallic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children04:55

    Handheld Metal Detector Screening for Metallic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children

    Published on: September 11, 2018

    Related Concept Videos

    Urinary Tract Calculi III: Medical Management01:30

    Urinary Tract Calculi III: Medical Management

    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)...
    Urinary Tract Calculi VI: Surgical Management01:25

    Urinary Tract Calculi VI: Surgical Management

    Procedures for Kidney StonesMedical intervention is necessary when kidney stones or renal calculi are too large to pass spontaneously (typically greater than 5 millimeters) when stones are accompanied by symptomatic infection (such as fever or pyelonephritis), when they impair kidney function, or when they cause persistent symptoms like severe pain, nausea, or urinary retention. Additionally, patients with only one kidney or those who cannot be treated with medical management also require...
    Urinary Tract Calculi I: Introduction01:28

    Urinary Tract Calculi I: Introduction

    Renal calculi, or kidney stones, are solid deposits of minerals and salts formed inside the kidneys. In medical terminology, "calculus" refers to the stone itself, while "lithiasis" describes the process of stone formation. Depending on their location within the urinary system, these stones may be classified as either urolithiasis, when situated within the urinary tract, or nephrolithiasis, when located within the kidneys. Each term signifies the specific impact of the stone.Predisposition...
    Urinary Tract Calculi V: Nursing Management01:28

    Urinary Tract Calculi V: Nursing Management

    AssessmentSubjective Data: Obtain a detailed health history, including any recent or chronic urinary tract infections, periods of immobilization, previous episodes of renal calculi, and medical conditions such as gout, benign prostatic hyperplasia, or hyperparathyroidism. Review the medication history for drugs that may influence stone formation, including allopurinol, analgesics, loop diuretics, or thiazide diuretics. Document the use of long-term indwelling catheters and any past surgical...
    Imaging Studies V: Intravenous Urography and Retrograde Pyelography01:22

    Imaging Studies V: Intravenous Urography and Retrograde Pyelography

    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...
    Urinary Tract Calculi II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations01:26

    Urinary Tract Calculi II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations

    Renal calculi, commonly termed kidney stones, are crystalline solid masses that form in the kidneys but can occur at any point within the urinary system, encompassing the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.The pathophysiology of renal stones involves several key factors: supersaturation of the urine with stone-forming constituents, changes in urine pH, a decrease in urine volume, and the presence of substances that promote or inhibit stone formation.Supersaturation of Urine: This is the...