Can Ureteral Stones Be Seen on Ultrasound?

B-ultrasound can show ureteral stones, but the specific effect depends on factors such as the location and size of the stone and the patient's body shape. For ureteral stones larger than 5 mm in diameter, B-ultrasound can usually show them clearly, but for smaller or hidden stones, other imaging tests such as CT or X-rays may be needed for further diagnosis.

1The role of B-ultrasound in detecting ureteral stones

B-ultrasound is a commonly used non-invasive imaging method that presents the internal structure of the human body through the principle of sound wave reflection. For ureteral stones, B-ultrasound is very effective in identifying larger stones, especially stones at the junction of the upper ureter and the renal pelvis. However, some small stones or stones located deep in the pelvis may not be directly visible in B-ultrasound due to interference from intestinal gas or other factors.

2When are other imaging studies needed?

If the ultrasound results are not clear, your doctor may recommend further tests:

Abdominal CT scan: Low-dose spiral CT is currently the gold standard for diagnosing ureteral stones. It can clearly display stones of almost all sizes and locations and has a high detection accuracy.

Abdominal X-ray: This can be used to detect radioactive stones such as calcium oxalate stones, but is less effective at detecting non-radioactive stones such as uric acid stones.

Intravenous urography (IVU): suitable for difficult cases, using dye to observe the function of the ureter and stone shadows.

3 How to deal with ureteral stones

Once ureteral stones are diagnosed, the following treatments may be helpful:

Medical treatment: For smaller stones less than 5 mm, drinking more water, anti-inflammatory drugs or alpha blockers are usually used to help the stones pass.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL): Suitable for medium-sized stones of 5-20 mm. The stones are broken up by shock waves and then naturally excreted from the body.

Minimally invasive surgery: When the stones are large or cause severe obstruction, they can be removed through ureteroscopy or treated with percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

B-ultrasound is one of the first choices for ureteral stones detection, but it is not a panacea. If ureteral stones are suspected, you should seek medical attention in time and use a variety of methods to confirm the diagnosis so that you can choose the right treatment plan and improve the patient's quality of life. In daily life, high-risk groups should drink more water and avoid high-salt and high-oxalate foods to reduce the risk of stone formation.