“My father’s CT scan shows two seperate reports. How is that possible?”
In a CT scan done for my father there was a large calculi seen in the right kidney. The report measured it at 2 cms. However, just after a week a repeat scan was done which showed no calculi. How is this possible that such a large calculi gets dissolved in a week?
10 Answers
It is extremely unlikely!
Depends on area of scan. Could be a kidney stone that has passed.
Was one of the scans done with contrast? If the second scan had contrast, the stone could be obscured and therefore missed by the radiologist who would think it had resolved. Hard to know without seeing the scan. I agree that a stone that size should still be present.
Dr Cox
Dr Cox
Without surgery, a 2 cm kidney stone is not going anywhere. Could have been misinterpreted on either exam. Sure is 2 cm and not 2mm? 2mm stone would typically pass. Consult the physician.
All the best.
All the best.
It doesn’t. If the 2nd was done with contrast, it might mask the stone. I would check with radiology to check for an error.
Stephen W. Kulbaba
Radiologist
How could a calculus disappear in a week? Is it possible the first CT scan was misread? This would be unusual as stones, especially ones with calcification, are quite easy to identify and hard to mistake, and a transcription error would be unlikely. Could it have passed? A 2cm stone is quite large and calculi that large often produce obstruction of the urine flow from the kidneys or through the ureters and as it attempts to pass it would likely cause a significant amount of pain. And there is no information on any attempts at treatment in the interval between the two studies. Did the patient have lithotripsy or other intervention? Did the patient take any medications or supplements that may have affected the stone? There are some herbal supplements that have helped break down and prevent the formation of stones, chanca piedra for instance. Unfortunately, with only the details you've provided and without more information and having the two CT scans for comparison, any answer can only be speculative.
A 2 cm sized renal calculus cannot pass out on its own. Kindly get the CT reports reviewed with the radiologist at the CT scan centre again.
Dr Himadri
Dr Himadri
I’m not sure how to answer this. It may depend on whether the patient had contrast administered on the CT scan initially and then on the second CT scan, no contrast ministered and this could potentially be a mistake in reading. Without seeing the films, I really cannot judge this question adequately. If your father had a procedure between first and second scan performed by a urologist, he might have gotten the stone out.
It sounds like there was an error in dictation as many radiology groups use voice transcription software. The software may have added or omitted words. One way to deal with this is to request a reread especially as it seems at least one of the 2 reports is wrong. Such a large calculus cannot dissolve in a week. Also such a large stone cannot be passed.
The first was probably done without contrast and the second one was done with contrast which hides the stone.
