Your healthcare provider may order a CT scan of your urinary system when they suspect that you could have kidney stones. Kidney stones can cause painful symptoms, including pain in your lower back or side, blood in your urine, nausea or fever.
If you are living with any of these symptoms, a CT scan can identify the presence of kidney stones, so that they can be treated and resolved. A CT scan can tell you if your symptoms are caused by kidney stones, and can help shape treatment options, as well.
Why your healthcare provider recommended a CT scan for kidney stones
Knowing whether you have kidney stones can help narrow down the cause of symptoms you may be experiencing. While kidney stones can be painful, knowing for certain that they are present means they can be treated effectively. A CT scan is the most accurate way to find out whether you have kidney stones, and if so, to what extent they are the source of any symptoms you are having.
When do providers recommend a CT scan to look for kidney stones?
While not all kidney stones cause symptoms, your healthcare provider may want to do a CT scan if you are experiencing pain while urinating, pain in the lower back, side, or abdomen, blood in the urine, or trouble urinating.
These are common symptoms of kidney stones. A CT scan will provide the needed imagery to identify even small kidney stones, and can also be used to rule out or identify other possible reasons for your symptoms.
Why is a CT scan the preferred test when a kidney stone is suspected?
A CT scan is the preferred imaging when kidney stones are suspected. The CT shows even the smallest of stones, which may be missed on ultrasounds or other imaging.
The images are highly accurate, and can identify the size, shape, and location of any kidney stone that may be present. A CT scan is quick, which can be helpful in emergency settings or when you are experiencing pain that needs to be addressed right away.
What can my provider learn from my CT results for kidney stones?
Your healthcare provider can learn important details that will help direct any necessary treatment for your kidney stones. Location, size, and composition of the stones are all important to know when considering treatment options. Stones that are small enough may pass on their own, while larger stones may require more formal treatment.
Location of the stones helps your healthcare provider know whether they may be blocking your urinary tract, which can interfere with the flow of urine. The CT scan will also show any other issues within and around the urinary system, such as infection, gallstones, or appendicitis, that may be causing symptoms that mimic kidney stone pain.
How a CT scan shows the kidneys and urinary tract in detail
A CT scan uses x-ray and computer technology to create detailed images of your urinary system, including kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. These images provide the information your healthcare provider needs to better understand what is happening with your urinary tract system. This can include the presence of kidney stones and also other conditions such as infection or structural abnormalities.
How does a CT scan create detailed pictures of the body?
The CT scanner creates detailed images by taking multiple x-rays of the body. The scanner rotates around the body to capture different angles, which are then sent to a computer for processing.
The computer creates cross-sectional 3-D images of the body’s internal structures that are highly detailed. These scans are helpful in identifying specific concerns, as well as ruling out other possible conditions.
How can a CT scan capture clear images of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder?
The use of x-ray technology, combined with 3-D computer processing, results in multiple, detailed images of the urinary system. Sometimes a contrast agent, usually iodine based, is used to highlight these areas so that they can be seen more distinctly on the scan. The scan will show the structures of the urinary system (kidneys, ureters, bladder) in great detail so that any signs of infection, kidney stones, or unusual growths will be clear.
What areas of the urinary tract do providers focus on when checking for stones?
Checking for kidney stones involves a close look at your kidneys, ureters, and bladder. While stones typically form in the kidneys, they can travel through the ureters, which are the tubes that carry urine and connect your kidneys to your bladder. Sometimes stones can block the ureters, which keeps the flow of urine from happening normally.
Stones can also lodge between the ureters and the bladder, preventing the urine from collecting in the bladder. Stones can be found anywhere along the urinary system, and can sometimes even form in the bladder itself. Very small stones may pass on their own through the bladder, but larger stones may need more formal treatment.
How kidney stones appear on a CT scan
A CT scan is helpful in identifying the details of kidney stones. It will show the size, shape, texture, and location of any kidney stones that are present. This information is needed by your healthcare provider in order to properly understand and treat your kidney stones.
Why do kidney stones show up clearly on a CT scan?
Kidney stones are made up of calcium and other minerals that are hard and solid in nature. Their dense texture means they absorb more of the x-ray than do soft tissues.
This makes them appear distinctly on a CT scan, as the contrast between the stones and the soft tissues where they are found is clearly seen. The minerals of kidney stones will appear brighter than the tissues that surround them, so they show up clearly on the scan.
Why does the size and location of a stone matter?
The size and location of your kidney stones are important details in knowing how to best treat the stones. If a stone is small in size it is more likely to be able to pass through the urinary system on its own, without additional treatment.
Larger stones can get stuck in the urinary system, blocking the flow of urine and needing more direct medical attention. Location of the stones is also important, as stones that block the flow of urine, such as those that are lodged in the ureters, are more painful and medically urgent, and need more immediate treatment to resolve.
How can a CT scan help my provider to find a kidney stone?
The x-ray technology used in a CT scan provides multiple images from different angles. Because kidney stones are denser than surrounding tissue, they are seen as brighter than the soft tissues that make up the urinary system.
Even small stones are visible against the backdrop of the urinary system. This helps your provider know whether kidney stones are present, and if so, their size and location in your body.
How CT scan results help guide next steps in your care
The results of your CT scan will play a big part in identifying and treating your kidney stones. A CT scan to confirm whether kidney stones are present, and to what extent they are contributing to symptoms such as pain and blood in the urine, is helpful in knowing next steps. A CT scan can also rule out the presence of kidney stones, so that other sources of symptoms, such as tumors or infection, can be identified.
What can a CT scan reveal about whether a kidney stone is causing a blockage?
A CT scan will show the exact size, shape, and location of any kidney stones within the urinary system. This includes stones that have travelled from the kidney to one of the ureters, where a blockage is more likely to occur.
The scan also shows whether a kidney stone is positioned between the ureter and the bladder, which can also create a blockage. The scan will also show whether the kidneys are swollen, indicating a blockage and buildup of urine.
How could my CT results help explain my symptoms, like pain, or blood in the urine?
Kidney stones are known for the pain they cause and the symptoms they create. A CT scan can show whether a stone is creating a blockage, which is very painful, typically seen as pain in the back or side of the body. A blockage results in the buildup of urine and can cause infection, resulting in fever or cloudy urine.
If there is blood in the urine, it could be caused by the rough edges of a kidney stone scraping the inside of the kidneys, ureters, or bladder. The size, shape, and location of kidney stones, as seen on the CT scan, can help explain the presence of symptoms such as pain or blood in the urine.
How can my CT results help my provider to create a personalized plan of treatment?
The results from your CT scan will help determine your personalized plan of care in treating your kidney stones. The size and location of the stones will help determine the treatment plan. Very small stones may pass on their own, possibly with increased hydration to help break up the stones.
Larger stones may benefit from a process to break the stones up in order to help them pass, or from medication to relax the ureter. Stones that are causing a urinary blockage may need pain management and a more intensive treatment to relieve the blockage.
Why schedule your Kidney Stone CT appointment with Touchstone Medical Imaging
Touchstone Medical Imaging offers CT scans in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Montana, Oklahoma, and Texas with same-day appointments for kidney stone CTs. Often times your doctor may refer you to the ER if you have symptoms, requiring you to see another healthcare provider at the hospital before your CT scan. This can become costly, when Touchstone Imaging can provide the diagnostic scan quickly and send results back to your physician within hours.
Reach out to us at Touchstone, and we’ll help you schedule an appointment at an imaging center near you, today.
We’re here to help you get the answers you need.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Why would my provider choose a CT scan to check for kidney stones?
A: A CT scan is one of the most accurate ways to confirm if a kidney stone is causing your symptoms.
Q: What makes a CT scan more effective than other tests for detecting kidney stones?
A: CT scans provide detailed, cross-sectional images that can spot even very small stones that might be missed on other scans.
Q: What can my provider learn from my CT scan results?
A: Your provider can see the number, size, and exact location of any stones, which helps guide your treatment.
Q: How does a CT scan show the kidneys and urinary tract so clearly?
A: The scan uses X-rays and computer processing to create sharp, layered images of your kidneys, ureters, and bladder.
Q: Why do kidney stones appear clearly on a CT scan?
A: Most kidney stones are dense and show up as bright spots against the softer tissue of the urinary tract.
Q: Why does it matter where a kidney stone is located?
A: The location of a stone can affect whether it causes a blockage or pain, and helps determine the best treatment approach.
Q: How can a CT scan help explain symptoms like back pain or blood in the urine?
A: A CT scan can show if a stone is obstructing urine flow or irritating the lining of your urinary tract, which may be causing your symptoms.
Q: How do CT scan results help with treatment planning?
A: The images help your provider decide whether you need medication, monitoring, or a procedure to remove the stone.