cat scan or ultrasound for kidney stones
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i have had about 4 CT scans and im only 20, due to kidney stones. i had an ultrasound about a week ago and was told i had a 2 mm stone in my right kidney. i was not happy with the doctor because he didn’t help much besides telling me i had a stone and that he would see me in six months, besides that no testing or anything. i went to see a new urologist who i like very much! he has ordered a 24 hour urine analysis and some blood work, but he also said he wants to do a CT scan because ultrasounds aren’t always accurate. im not sure if he knows ive had multiple since their systems were down today and this is my first time seeing him, should i mention it to him? im very worried that the stone could be bigger than what the other doctor said or that there could be more, but also i really don’t think i should be exposed to so much radiation at 20 years old. your advice would be very appreciated! 😊😊
1 like, 3 replies
Luna_Sea jessxo
Posted
This was one of my concerns, but what I have read indicates that it's a low enough dose of radiation to not cause a significant risk of cancer. But they still only recommend it out of medical necessity. The ultrasound shows you have a stone, but it isn't necessarily accurate at sizing the stone. I had one CT scan last year and three the year before that. I'm scheduled for an x-ray at the end of this month to see if there is anything new. You might be able to opt for an x-ray instead, but need to discuss it with your new urologist. Since too much radiation at your age is concerning you, it's worth talking to him and discussing the risks and alternatives, especially if this turns into a regular problem.
jessxo Luna_Sea
Posted
Luna_Sea jessxo
Posted
I won't fully know the answer to your question until my next x-ray because I think there was some confusion at my doctors office. Somehow they got a hold of my CT scan from my ER visit earlier in the year and they were using it like it was current. I tried explaining that the stone on the CT scan they were seeing in my right kidney was two 4mm's that looked like one big one and that I passed it about a week after the CT scan. The ultrasound tech spent forever searching my right kidney for that stone and could find nothing at all. She moved to my left kidney and found a big one immediately that was not on the CT scan at all. I tried explaining again that it was two stones that looked like one and that I had already passed them. Anyway, I was scheduled a uretorscopy and had the one on the left removed. When I came back for my follow-up, my urologist said I needed to schedule a lithotripsy for the one in my right kidney. I told him that it didn't show up in the ultrasound and he said ultrasounds weren't as accurate as CT scans. It wasn't until I got home that I realized he was referring to the old CT scan from six months earlier because I hadn't had any CT scans since becoming his patient. He told me I could hold off on the lithotripsy unless I started having pain and wanted it out sooner and to come back in February for a kub x-ray (the end of this month). If the stone is there, than the ultrasound missed it (or I quickly grew another stone). If it's not there, than I passed it nine months ago. I wasn't about to schedule a lithotripsy based on an old scan and I haven't had any pain on that side (though I don't seem to feel pain on the right like I do on the left). I'm hoping I'm right...but won't know for a few more weeks.