[Dual energy computed tomography in diagnosis of urolithiasis: a new method for determining the chemical composition of urinary stones]

Abstract

The "gold standard" for the diagnosis and evaluation of urinary stones is native computed tomography, which allows determining stone localization and size of with high accuracy. However, this imaging technique has limited diagnostic usefulness in determining the stone chemical composition. The newly introduced method of dual-energy computed tomography, based on obtaining images at two different energy levels is highly effective in determining the composition of urinary stones. The review outlines the principles and methods of performing dual-energy computed tomography using various scanners. The authors analyze the results of using this method for diagnosing urolithiasis, determining the stone chemical composition and point out the limitations and difficulties encountered in its application.

Keywords: chemical composition; dual-energy computed tomography; urinary stones; urolithiasis.