Optimizing Scan Range in Computed Tomography of Kidneys, Ureters, and Bladder: A Retrospective Study on Reducing Overscanning
<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Computed tomography of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder (CT KUB) is essential for evaluating urinary stones but also exposes patients to significant radiation. The scanning field should be minimized to only the necessary area to limit this radiation exp...
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2024-11-01
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| author | Ali Bin Owien Khaled Alenazi Ahmad Abanomy Mansour Almanaa Mohammad Alarifi Haitham Alahmad |
| author_facet | Ali Bin Owien Khaled Alenazi Ahmad Abanomy Mansour Almanaa Mohammad Alarifi Haitham Alahmad |
| author_sort | Ali Bin Owien |
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| description | <i>Background and Objectives</i>: Computed tomography of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder (CT KUB) is essential for evaluating urinary stones but also exposes patients to significant radiation. The scanning field should be minimized to only the necessary area to limit this radiation exposure. This study aims to assess the extent of CT KUB overscanning in renal colic procedures and identify the appropriate vertebral level for starting CT KUB scans. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: A retrospective analysis of 299 adult patients who underwent CT KUB examinations for kidney stone assessment was performed. To assess overscanning, the number of excess slices above the pole of the highest kidney and under the pubic symphysis was measured on the axial image of each patient. To allow for potential human error, a maximum acceptable level of overscanning was set at 10%. <i>Results</i>: This study found that only 31% of the scans met the target of less than 10% of overscanning superior to the highest kidney and inferior to the pubic symphysis. In comparison, overscanning was present in 69% of the scans, mainly at a superior level, resulting in higher radiation exposure for patients. <i>Conclusions</i>: A significant number of the scans exhibited unnecessary overscanning beyond the highest kidney, prompting us to propose using the upper border of the T10 vertebral body as a potential reference point to establish the upper margin for a CT KUB scan. This study suggests using T10 and the pubic symphysis as reliable landmarks to accurately determine the scan length. Starting CT KUB scans from the T10 vertebral body to the pubic symphysis allows for imaging of the entire urinary tract, minimizing unnecessary overscanning and reducing patient irradiation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-caa297720bdd4ebeaa7e5284bab16049 |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
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| series | Medicina |
| spelling | doaj-art-caa297720bdd4ebeaa7e5284bab160492025-08-20T02:43:46ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442024-11-016012195210.3390/medicina60121952Optimizing Scan Range in Computed Tomography of Kidneys, Ureters, and Bladder: A Retrospective Study on Reducing OverscanningAli Bin Owien0Khaled Alenazi1Ahmad Abanomy2Mansour Almanaa3Mohammad Alarifi4Haitham Alahmad5Radiological Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 145111, Riyadh 4545, Saudi ArabiaRadiological Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 145111, Riyadh 4545, Saudi ArabiaRadiological Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 145111, Riyadh 4545, Saudi ArabiaRadiological Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 145111, Riyadh 4545, Saudi ArabiaRadiological Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 145111, Riyadh 4545, Saudi ArabiaRadiological Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 145111, Riyadh 4545, Saudi Arabia<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Computed tomography of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder (CT KUB) is essential for evaluating urinary stones but also exposes patients to significant radiation. The scanning field should be minimized to only the necessary area to limit this radiation exposure. This study aims to assess the extent of CT KUB overscanning in renal colic procedures and identify the appropriate vertebral level for starting CT KUB scans. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: A retrospective analysis of 299 adult patients who underwent CT KUB examinations for kidney stone assessment was performed. To assess overscanning, the number of excess slices above the pole of the highest kidney and under the pubic symphysis was measured on the axial image of each patient. To allow for potential human error, a maximum acceptable level of overscanning was set at 10%. <i>Results</i>: This study found that only 31% of the scans met the target of less than 10% of overscanning superior to the highest kidney and inferior to the pubic symphysis. In comparison, overscanning was present in 69% of the scans, mainly at a superior level, resulting in higher radiation exposure for patients. <i>Conclusions</i>: A significant number of the scans exhibited unnecessary overscanning beyond the highest kidney, prompting us to propose using the upper border of the T10 vertebral body as a potential reference point to establish the upper margin for a CT KUB scan. This study suggests using T10 and the pubic symphysis as reliable landmarks to accurately determine the scan length. Starting CT KUB scans from the T10 vertebral body to the pubic symphysis allows for imaging of the entire urinary tract, minimizing unnecessary overscanning and reducing patient irradiation.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/12/1952overscanningCT KUBkidney stonescan rangeKUB |
| spellingShingle | Ali Bin Owien Khaled Alenazi Ahmad Abanomy Mansour Almanaa Mohammad Alarifi Haitham Alahmad Optimizing Scan Range in Computed Tomography of Kidneys, Ureters, and Bladder: A Retrospective Study on Reducing Overscanning Medicina overscanning CT KUB kidney stone scan range KUB |
| title | Optimizing Scan Range in Computed Tomography of Kidneys, Ureters, and Bladder: A Retrospective Study on Reducing Overscanning |
| title_full | Optimizing Scan Range in Computed Tomography of Kidneys, Ureters, and Bladder: A Retrospective Study on Reducing Overscanning |
| title_fullStr | Optimizing Scan Range in Computed Tomography of Kidneys, Ureters, and Bladder: A Retrospective Study on Reducing Overscanning |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimizing Scan Range in Computed Tomography of Kidneys, Ureters, and Bladder: A Retrospective Study on Reducing Overscanning |
| title_short | Optimizing Scan Range in Computed Tomography of Kidneys, Ureters, and Bladder: A Retrospective Study on Reducing Overscanning |
| title_sort | optimizing scan range in computed tomography of kidneys ureters and bladder a retrospective study on reducing overscanning |
| topic | overscanning CT KUB kidney stone scan range KUB |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/12/1952 |
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