Is there an advantage in performing a combined examination: diuretic renal scintigraphy and low dose computed tomography compared to the separate use of these methods in urolithiasis.

Ultrasonography (US), radiography of the kidneys, ureters and bladder (RKUB), intravenous urography (IVU) and especially non-enchanced CT are well established diagnostic modalities in screening patients with urolithiasis, while not always fully diagnostic especially when obstructive uropathy or calculous pyelonephritis are present . Diuretic renal scintigraphy (DRS) can determine obstruction, may differentiate between complete or partial, acute or chronic obstruction, but can not specify the cause and often the location of obstruction. The imaging protocol, including DRS with technetium-99m-mercaptylacetyltriglycine ((99m)Tc-MAG3) and single photon emission tomography/computed tomography (SPET/CT) of the kidneys, ureters, and urinary bladder allows for both functional and morphological information, visualization of renal stones and possible renal complications. The main advantages and limitations of this combined examination are discussed and the test is compared to the separate use of DRS and low dose of CT, in urolithiasis.