Do you have severe pain on either side of your abdomen? Is there blood in your urine? Are you experiencing nausea, vomiting, fever, chills or does your urine look unusual with a cloudy colour and bad smell?

Well, you might have kidney stones. A CT scan can confirm it for you whether you have kidney stones or not.

While there are other diagnostic methods to determine the presence of kidney stones, CT scans are more precise.

In this blog, you can read about kidney stones, CT scan for kidney stones, its procedure and what to expect in CT scan.

Kidney Stone and Its Symptoms

Before diving into CT scan, let us have a quick recap of what kidney stones are and what are their symptoms. As you may already know, kidney stones are hard deposits of salts and minerals and they are formed inside your kidneys.

It can affect any part of your urinary tract - from your kidneys to your bladder.

They can be caused because of many reasons - certain medical conditions, excess body weight, diet, some medications and supplements you take.

If you have kidney stones, you might experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• A severe and sharp pain on the sides of your abdomen and below the ribs

• Pain that moves into your lower abdomen and groin

• Burning sensation or pain while you are urinating

• Pain in various intensity that comes in waves.

• Pink, Red, or Brown urine

• Urine is cloudy and it smells bad

• Fever and chills (in this case there could be an infection)

• Nausea and vomiting

• You urinate more than usual, in small amounts and feel the need to urinate always

Tests for Kidney Stones

Wondering whether you have kidney stones? Don’t worry, there are several tests available to determine it for you. They include :

X-rays

Through X-rays some stones can be found out, but if the stones are very little, it might not be seen in an X-ray.

CT Scans

CT scan or Computed Tomography is a special kind of X-ray. CT Scans give you clear and quick images which helps in fast diagnosis.

Here, the equipment takes pictures from various angles and a computer puts all slices together into more detailed images.

Ultrasound

Here, using sound waves, pictures of the inside of your kidneys are created for diagnosis.

Blood Tests

Through blood tests, your doctor can determine whether certain substances which cause kidney stones are in excess in your blood. For eg, Uric Acid or Calcium.

Urine Tests

In this, your urine will be tested to determine whether it contains any minerals which cause stones or whether it lacks any substances which prevent kidney stone formation.

Your doctor can detect kidney stones through any of the above mentioned tests and decide what treatment and medications you should follow.

What is CT Scan for Kidney Stones?

In CT(Computed Tomography) scans, doctors use a series of X-rays to see the insides of your body.

It provides a more detailed image than normal X-rays

CT Scan is considered the gold standard for kidney stone diagnosis.

Sometimes it is performed with a contrast dye. They are given through an IV Line in one of your veins or through the mouth. Doctors can see your internal organs more clearly, if contrast dyes are used.

The success rate of diagnosing kidney stones using CT Scan is about 90-98%.

Know more about CT Scan Cost

Procedure and What To Expect During CT Scan

If you visit a hospital with the symptoms of kidney stones, the doctor will give you necessary medicine to ease your pain.

It is the radiographer who performs CT Scan. He/She will explain to you the whole procedure and ask you some questions.

Following are the steps/procedures in a CT Scan:

• Any metal objects, including piercings and other jewellery will be removed from your body. And you will be made to wear a hospital gown.

• If your CT scan procedure is done with contrast dye, an IV line will be started on your hand. You have to swallow, if it is an oral contrast dye.

• You will lie on a scan table. And this table slides into a special tunnel shaped scanner. Sometimes pillows and straps are used to prevent you from moving during the procedure.

• The radiographer will be in another room and it is where the scanner controls are.

• He/She can always see you, and communicate with you with the help of speakers inside the scanner.

• There is also a call button, for you to communicate with him/her, about your problems while scanning.

• The scanner will begin to rotate around you. X-rays will pass through your body. You might hear a whirring/clicking sound, which is pretty normal.

• If IV lines were used, it will be removed once the procedure is done, and the radiographer will help you out of the scanner.

During the procedure, if you experience any breathing trouble, sweating, numbness or change in your heart beat, let your radiographer know that.

If contrast dye was used in your procedure, you may feel a salty or metallic taste in your mouth, headache, nausea/vomiting, or a flushing sensation. Do not worry, it will soon pass.

Precautions before and after CT Scan

Following are some of the precautions before and after the CT Scan and things you should expect after the procedure :

• If you are pregnant or you think that you are pregnant, let your doctor know about that before going for the procedure.

• Remove all kinds of metals from your body, including any piercings and jewellery.

• Iodine based contrast dye may not be ideal for everyone. Your doctor can identify it, if that's the case.

• In case of any allergic reaction to the contrast medium, let the radiographer know about that.

• If the doctor asks for a scan with contrast dye, do not eat anything for 3 hours before the scan. If there isn't any contrast medium involved, there are no such restrictions.

• If you are a diabetic patient, you should eat something light, 3 hours before the scan.

• If oral contrast media was used, you may be monitored for itching, swelling, rashes or any breathing troubles.

• There might be a slight pain/ swelling/ redness in the IV site.

• You can continue your daily diet and other activities. If you have any particular situation, your doctor will give you necessary instructions, which you should follow religiously.

Risks associated with CT Scan

It is usually a very simple and safe procedure.

Confirm with your doctor the amount of radiation used during the procedure. Low dose CT Scan involves very little radiation and it may decrease your future cancer risk.

Some people might have an allergic reaction to the contrast media, about which you can consult with your doctor.