Predictive value of NCCT quantitative analysis for proximal and middle impacted ureteral stones

The purpose of the study was to explore the predictive value of preoperative quantitative NCCT analysis for proximal and middle ureteral stone impaction. Data of 128 patients who diagnosed with proximal and middle ureteral stones were analyzed. Stone size, upper diameter of the ureter(D1), lower diameter of the ureter (D2), CT attenuation of the ureter above the stone (HA, 'HU above'), CT attenuation of the ureter below the stone (HB, 'HU below'), CT attenuation values of the stone's proximal segments (C1), CT attenuation values of the stone's distal segments (C2), and ureteral wall thickness(UWT)were recorded. Logistic regression was used to perform univariate and multivariate analyses of the data to determine the independent predictors of proximal and middle ureteral stone impaction. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to evaluate the predictive performance. Among the 128 patients, 52 (40.6%) had impacted stones, while 76 (59.4%) did not. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that stone size > 9.45 mm (OR = 1.372, 95% CI = 1.071-1.756, P = 0.012), UWT > 3.22 mm (OR = 4.217, 95% CI = 2.165 ~ 8.213, P < 0.001)、DDR > 2.10 (OR = 4.901, 95% CI = 1.797 ~ 13.365, P = 0.002)and HBA > 1.58 (OR = 5.237,95% CI = 1.502 ~ 18.259, P = 0.009)were independent risk factors for predicting ureteral stone impaction. In conclusion, stone size, UWT, DDR, and HBA show crucial predictive value for impaction of stones.