Investigation of Acute Flank Pain: How Do Practices of U.K. and Irish Urologists Compare with Those of Transatlantic and Continental European Colleagues?

Abstract

Urography remains the commonest modality for the investigation of acute flank pain in the UK and Ireland primarily because of limited CT services and greater familiarity with the images. Given the opportunity, only half of consultant urologists would select NESCT in preference to IVU, suggesting that improving the availability of CT services alone may not lead to practice paralleling that of our transatlantic and continental European colleagues.

Variability of Imaging Modalities for Acute Flank Pain in the UK

“…11,24 However, there does appear to have been a significant change in practice since 2005, when only 10% of consultant urologists were using CT routinely. 25 While we recognise that not all UK hospitals have responded to our questionnaire, Figure 1 demonstrates the wide geographic distribution of responses. We believe that this study provides a valuable insight into current practice and evidence that significant improvements in the diagnostic pathway for patients presenting with renal colic can be made.…”