Whole ureteric course delineation assessment using non contrast curved sagittal oblique reformatted CT

Abstract

Purpose: To develop a standardized technique to assess delineation of the whole ureter for the evaluation of symptomatizing urologic patients. Method and materials: 2500 patients are examined using 64-MDCT. Examinations were performed with oral hydration Group I (n = 834), Group II which received IV diuretics (n = 847), or Group III which received nothing (n = 819). Curved planar reformatted images were obtained manually to obtain the entire ureter in a single coronal oblique image. The ureter was divided into 3 anatomic segments for estimating the degree of its delineation where if the segment is assessed along its whole length it is graded as satisfactory delineation, otherwise it is graded as non-proper delineation. Delineation degrees for each ureteric segment were compared. Results: Satisfactory delineation obtained with group II (51.3%) was statistically higher than other groups with p value < 0.001, with a statistical significant result (p < 0.001) as regards the delineation of ureteric segments and patients’ sex; the middle and lower third segments show satisfactory delineation in group II with 86%, while the non-proper delineation is higher in females with percentage 66.1%, and the percentage of non-proper delineation among females is least recorded in group II. Conclusion: Curved sagittal oblique reformatted image with IV diuretics allows better tracing of the whole ureteric course.

Keywords

• Non contrast
• CPR
• MDCT
• Ureteric delineation