Value of kidney-ureter-bladder radiography in the erect position in addition to standard intravenous urography examination.

OBJECTIVES To determine if additional kidney-ureter-bladder radiography in the erect position can improve the diagnostic yield of standard intravenous urography (IVU) examination. SUBJECTS AND METHODS This prospective study was conducted from March to July 2007 on 108 consecutive patients (65 males and 43 females, age ranging from 20 to 50 years) who were referred to the Department of Radiology, Al-Amiri Hospital, Kuwait, for IVU examinations. After 15 min, a film was done in the erect position in addition to the routine IVU protocol. RESULTS Additional information was demonstrated in the erect radiograph as follows: detecting nephroptosis in 18 (17%) patients, improved visualization of the ureters in 58 (54%) patients, and differentiation between phleboliths and ureteric stone was possible in 12 (11%) patients. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated significant additional findings in the erect position (at 15 min) compared to the supine position.