Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are hard mineral deposits that can form in the urinary tract and cause severe pain or obstruction.
When to get help quickly: Urgent review is important if pain is severe, urine flow is blocked, fever develops, vomiting prevents drinking, or there is concern about dehydration or infection.
Common symptoms
Typical symptoms include sharp pain in the back, side, lower abdomen, or groin, blood in the urine, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes difficulty passing urine.
When imaging helps
Imaging helps confirm whether a stone is present, where it is located, whether it is blocking urine flow, and whether there are complications such as swelling of the kidney.
What radiology does
CT is often the best test to detect stones quickly, while ultrasound may be used in selected patients or follow-up settings.
What usually happens next
Small stones may pass on their own, while larger or obstructing stones may need medicines or urologic procedures.
Seen this on your report?
Your doctor or the radiologist who wrote it can tell you what it means for you.
Related articles
- A CT Scan Explained for PatientsCT scans are fast and detailed, which is why doctors reach for them in emergencies and complex diagnoses. Here is what they do best.
- What an 'Incidental Finding' MeansAn incidental finding is something noticed on a scan that was not the original reason for the test. That can be harmless, important, or somewhere in between.
- Why a Doctor Orders a Scan 'With and Without Contrast'That phrase sounds repetitive, but it usually means the doctor wants two different image sets because each one answers a slightly different question.
Related scan guides
- Kidney UltrasoundA Renal Ultrasound focuses specifically on your kidneys and bladder to check how well your urinary system is functioning. It relies on sound waves to check the size, shape, and health of your kidneys without the use of any radiation.
- CT AbdomenA CT Abdomen scan uses X-rays and computer processing to create detailed cross-sectional images of the abdominal organs including the liver, stomach, pancreas, kidneys, spleen, intestines, and blood vessels.
- CT UrogramA CT Urogram is a special type of CT scan that focuses on the urinary tract. This includes the kidneys, ureters (the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder), and the bladder itself.