Yes, a CT scan is the most accurate and common imaging test for diagnosing kidney stones, especially for first-time episodes, because it precisely shows the stone's size, location, and if it's causing a blockage, helping doctors decide on treatment; however, ultrasounds or X-rays might be used for recurrent stones or in pregnant patients to reduce radiation exposure, while blood and urine tests also check for infection or other issues.
Our doctors can tell if your child has a kidney stone by looking at their urinary tract with an ultrasound or a CT scan. Ultrasound is our first diagnostic choice because it doesn't expose your child to radiation.
Treating kidney stones in pregnancy starts conservatively with hydration, pain relief (opioids/acetaminophen), and sometimes antiemetics, as most pass on their own, but if symptoms persist or infection develops, procedures like ureteral stenting, nephrostomy tubes (for drainage), or ureteroscopy (laser stone removal) may be needed, while shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) is strictly avoided due to fetal risk. A specialist team (urologist & obstetrician) manages treatment, focusing on safety, with alpha-blockers (like tamsulosin) sometimes used cautiously to help passage.
A CT scan can be done without dye. This makes it safe for people who have dye allergies or kidney disease. The CT scan is now the most reliable and accurate test to diagnose kidney stones.
Your doctor may recommend a CT urogram if you have signs and symptoms — such as pain in your side or back or blood in your urine (hematuria) — that may be related to a urinary tract disorder. A CT urogram may be helpful in diagnosing urinary tract conditions such as: Kidney stones. Bladder stones.
Imaging tests such as CT scans may show kidney stones in your urinary tract. An advanced scan known as a high-speed or dual energy CT scan may help find tiny uric acid stones. Simple X-rays of the stomach area, also called the abdomen, are used less often.
Examples include:
You might be passing a kidney stone if you experience any of the following symptoms:
According to the American Urological Association, the current gold standard for confirming kidney stones is a non-contrast CT of the abdomen and pelvis. Once a stone is detected, size and location are established and are key determinants in the best management and treatment options.
The larger a stone is, the less likely that it will pass without surgery. Surgical treatment is usually recommended for stones 0.5 centimeters in size and larger, as well as for patients who fail conservative management. The procedures used today to remove stones are minimally invasive and highly effective.
The best way to encourage the passing of a kidney stone is by drinking plenty of fluids. This means lots of water, fruit juice (like lemon and citrus juice), and celery juice. You can also mix in some apple cider vinegar (ACV) to help speed up the process.
To prevent kidney stones, limit high-oxalate foods like spinach, rhubarb, beets, nuts, chocolate, and sweet potatoes, along with high-sodium items, sugary drinks, and excessive animal protein, while ensuring adequate dietary calcium and hydration. Common culprits include: spinach, rhubarb, beets, nuts (almonds, cashews), chocolate, tea, soy products, sweet potatoes, okra, and excessive salt/added sugars, though a dietitian can personalize your diet.
Symptoms of a kidney infection
Children of all ages can develop kidney stones, including infants, but they occur much more often in teens. A family history of kidney stones makes a child more likely to develop them. Children who've had kidney stones in the past have a greater chance of developing another kidney stone.
Mechanism of vitamin D in kidney stone formation. Vitamin D, particularly its active form, 1,25(OH)2D, plays a complex and multifaceted role in forming kidney stones. Specifically, vitamin D facilitates intestinal calcium absorption by binding to the VDR on intestinal cells (32, 34, 56, 57).
Small crystals in your urine fuse together, similar to the way salt crystals form from evaporating saltwater. More crystals can bind over time until a stone is formed. The stone can then continue to grow bigger and ultimately become so heavy that it breaks off within the kidney.
Genetic causes can be linked to kidney stone development. Renal tubular loss of electrolytes or protein or the development of kidney calculi can signal underlying metabolic, endocrine, or renal tubular dysfunction that is genetic in origin, especially when symptoms are present in utero, infancy, or adolescence.
Various conditions can mimic kidney stone pain, including urinary tract infections (UTIs), gallbladder issues, appendicitis, and even herniated discs. Each of these conditions can produce similar sharp, cramping pains in the abdomen, back, or groin. It's vital to get a professional diagnosis for accurate treatment.
Kidney ultrasound can help diagnose cysts, tumors, stones or infection.
Several signs never to ignore
Severe pain – Pain that prevents patients from finding a comfortable position, including severe pain in the lower back, abdomen or groin. If pain is not relieved by changing positions, it could be a kidney stone.
Uric acid stones are the only type of kidney stones that can sometimes be dissolved with the help of medication. Alkaline citrate salts or sodium bicarbonate are considered for this purpose, and sometimes allopurinol.
If a kidney stone leads to an infection in your urinary tract, your urine may appear cloudy or smell stronger than usual. The cloudiness or abnormal odor could be due to bacteria or pus in your urinary tract. In some cases, the odor could be due to highly concentrated urine.
CT scans project X-rays into the body to produce detailed images and are often necessary in situations where a medical diagnosis needs to be made quickly. While they are generally considered safe, multiple CT scans over time pose a small increase in cancer risk.
Cancers that cannot be diagnosed through CT scan include prostate cancer, uterine cancer, certain liver cancers, certain brain cancers, blood cancer, and bone cancers.
If someone is in a lot of pain, or if they find it hard to hold still for long periods of time, then a CT scan is often your best option. We can see things more clearly sometimes with an MRI, but those take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to obtain, depending on how much of your body is being scanned.