Diagnostic accuracy of kidney shear wave elastography at the diagnosis of ureteral stones

Abstract

Aim: To determine the efficacy of kidney shear wave elastography (SWE) in patients diagnosed with ureteral stones Method: Both kidneys of 30 patients were evaluated prospectively with SWE. The ureteral stone size and the degree of hydronephrosis were determined by sonographic examination. The contralateral kidney was accepted as the control parameter. Stone size, grade of hydronephrosis and kidney shear wave speed changes were noted and their relations were examined for statistical significance. Results: Affected kidney group had significantly increased SWE values than the control group. (3.87+-1.22 vs 2.06+-0.72 m/sec) (p=0.01). Neither the stone size nor the kidney SWE values showed a correlation with the gender. There was a positive correlation between the grade of hydronephrosis and the stone size (p=0.047, r=0,36). Kidneys with grade 2 hydronephrosis had significantly higher SWE values than those with grade 1 hydronephrosis. Conclusion: SWE is a promising tool to observe the parenchymal elasticity changes in patients with hydronephrosis secondary to ureteral stones. Further studies are necessary to confirm the research results.