Current opinion in urology
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Over the past 10 years, we have seen major advances in urological imaging including developments in digital imaging, ultrasound and computerized tomography (CT) scanning. All of these have had an impact on the management of urinary tract stone disease. In parallel with these, we have witnessed a greater appreciation of the potential harm of irradiation exposure. In this article, we aim to provide an overview of the impact of imaging in urolithiasis treatment planning in 2013. ⋯ A detailed understanding of the performance of all the imaging modalities available to the stone surgeon in 2013 is vital in order to offer well tolerated and effective imaging strategies for all stages of the patient journey. CT has developed a pre-eminent role in the diagnosis of urinary stone disease, it has also found favour as a valuable surgical planning tool and is being advocated in the surveillance protocols. However, we must keep in mind the risks of radiation exposure in a patient population characterized by youth and a susceptibility to repeated acute disease episodes.