Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 9, 2026

Estimation of Urinary Nanocrystals in Humans using Calcium Fluorophore Labeling and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis
Published on: February 9, 2021
Quantitative Evaluation of the Effects of Urinary Stone Composition and Size on Color Doppler Twinkling Artifact: A
Mengmeng Shang1, Xiao Sun1, Qing Liu1
1Department of Ultrasound, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Objectives:
The present study was conducted to quantitatively evaluate the influence of urinary stone composition and size on color Doppler twinkling artifact.
Methods:
Calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM), apatite, L-cystine, and uric acid (UA) stone phantoms with 10 different sizes were prepared artificially and embedded in the renal sinus of porcine kidneys in vitro. Color Doppler ultrasound scanning was performed on the phantoms and TA pictures were recorded. The length of the twinkling artifact (TAL) and width of twinkling artifact (TAW) were measured. The color pixels representing twinkling artifact intensity (TAI) were calculated.
Results:
There were significant differences in the appearance of TA among the four types of stone phantoms (P < .05). The mean value of TAI of UA stones was the strongest, followed by L-cystine, apatite, and COM. A significantly positive correlation was found between TA and stone size (rTAI = 0.801, rTAL = 0.838, rTAW = 0.584, respectively; P <.05).
Conclusions:
The appearance of TA in association with urinary stones is highly dependent on stone composition and size.
Related Concept Videos
Urinary Tract Calculi III: Medical Management
Urinary Tract Calculi I: Introduction
Urinary Tract Calculi VI: Surgical Management
Imaging Studies II: Ultrasonography
Urinary Tract Calculi II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations
Imaging Studies V: Intravenous Urography and Retrograde Pyelography

