Role Of Helical Nonenhanced Computed Tomography In The Evaluation Of Acute Flank Pain

This study was carried out at Zagazig university hospital and Fakous General Hospital, Al-Sharkeya during the period from May 2010 till May 2011. It included fifty patients complaining of acute flank pain with age range from 3- 82 years old, with mean age 42 years. In this study, we evaluated the role of helical non-enhanced computed tomography (NECT) in the diagnosis of acute flank pain. Our patients were subjected to complete clinical evaluation, NECT examination, and other investigations according to the clinical and NECT suspected pathology. NECT findings were compared to the final data obtained after treatment of the patients. Acute flank pain is a common and complex clinical problem which might be caused by a variety of urinary and extraurinary abnormalities among which ureterolithiasis being the most frequent cause.Once a stone is identified, its site and size are accurately assessed. Identification of the relative fragility of stones by measuring CT number (attenuation value) plays an increasingly important role in planning the management. Also, the secondary signs of obstruction are of equal importance in establishing the diagnosis of urolithiasis.