From the Research
Sensitivity of Hematuria for Nephrolithiasis
- The sensitivity of hematuria for diagnosing nephrolithiasis varies across studies, with reported values ranging from 77% to 84% 1, 2.
- A study published in Urology annals found that the sensitivity of microhematuria for diagnosing ureteral stones was 85%, compared to 55% for renal stones only 1.
- Another study published in Urology found that the sensitivity of hematuria on microscopic urinalysis for renal colic was 84% 2.
- However, the presence or absence of hematuria cannot be used to reliably determine which patients actually have ureteral stones, as the specificity and negative predictive value are low 1, 2, 3.
Comparison with Other Diagnostic Tools
- A study published in Scandinavian journal of urology found that a single nephrographic phase CT had a sensitivity of 86% for detecting urinary stones, compared to 77-84% for hematuria 4.
- Another study published in BJU international found that ultrasonography had a sensitivity of 54% for detecting renal calculi, which is lower than the sensitivity of hematuria 5.
- The use of noncontrast-enhanced CT scan is considered the gold standard diagnostic tool for nephrolithiasis, and hematuria should not be relied upon as the sole diagnostic criterion 1, 2.