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CT-calculometry (CT-CM): advanced NCCT post-processing to investigate urinary calculi

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed at evaluating the potential of CT-calculometry (CT-CM) as a novel method to determine mineralisation, composition, homogeneity and volume of urinary calculi based on preoperative non-contrast-enhanced computed tomography (NCCT) scans.

Materials and methods

CT-CM was performed in preoperative NCCTs of 25 patients treated for upper tract urinary calculi by ureterorenoscopy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Absolute mineralisation values were achieved by use of quantitative CT-osteoabsorptiometry and compared to Fourier infrared spectroscopy as a reference for stone composition. Homogeneity was assessed by advanced software-based NCCT post-processing and visualised by using a maximum intensity projection algorithm. Volumetric measurement was performed by software-based three-dimensional reconstruction.

Results

CT-CM was feasible in all of the 25 NCCTs. Absolute mineralisation values calculated by quantitative CT-OAM might be used to identify the most frequent stone types. High levels of inhomogeneity could be detected even in pure component stones. Volumetric measurement could be performed with minimal effort.

Conclusions

CT-CM is based on advanced NCCT post-processing software and represents a novel and promising approach to determine mineralisation, composition, homogeneity and volume of urinary calculi based on preoperative NCCT. CT-CM could provide valuable information to predict outcome of different stone treatment methods.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, Rorschacherstrasse 95, 9007, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    Valentin Zumstein, Patrick Betschart, Hans-Peter Schmid & Dominik Abt

  2. Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, Rorschacherstrasse 95, 9007, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    Lukas Hechelhammer

  3. Department of Biomedicine, Musculoskeletal Research, University of Basel, Pestalozzistrasse 20, 4056, Basel, Switzerland

    Magdalena Müller-Gerbl

Authors
  1. Valentin Zumstein
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  2. Patrick Betschart
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  3. Lukas Hechelhammer
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  4. Hans-Peter Schmid
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  5. Dominik Abt
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  6. Magdalena Müller-Gerbl
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Contributions

VZ: Project development, data collection, data analysis, manuscript writing. PB: Project development, manuscript writing. LH: Data collection, data analysis, manuscript editing. HPS: Project development, manuscript editing. DA: Project development, data collection, data analysis, manuscript writing. MMG: Project development, data collection, data analysis, manuscript editing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Valentin Zumstein.

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Conflict of interest

V. Zumstein, P. Betschart, L. Hechelhammer, H. P. Schmid, D. Abt and M. Müller-Gerbl have nothing to disclose according to the ICMJE conflict of interest form.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Cite this article

Zumstein, V., Betschart, P., Hechelhammer, L. et al. CT-calculometry (CT-CM): advanced NCCT post-processing to investigate urinary calculi. World J Urol 36, 117–123 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-017-2092-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-017-2092-7

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