Ultrasound has become a mainstay tool in urologists' armamentarium for the diagnosis and management of nephrolithiasis. From starting as a rudimentary form of imaging, it has come to play a more prominent role over time, paralleling evolution in ultrasound technology. Throughout the medical community there is a growing emphasis on reducing the amount of ionizing radiation delivered to patients during routine imaging. As such there has been a resurgence of interest in ultrasound given its lack of associated radiation exposure and proven effectiveness as a diagnostic and therapeutic imaging modality. Herein we provide a review of the history of ultrasound, how the use of ultrasound is expanding in both the diagnosis and treatment of urinary stone disease, and finally how promising applications of ultrasound are shaping the future of kidney stone management.
Journal of endourology. 2016 Oct 12 [Epub ahead of print]
David T Tzou, Manint Usawachintachit, Kazumi Taguchi, Thomas Chi
University of California San Francisco, 8785 , 400 Parnassus Avenue , San Francisco, California, United States , 94143 ; ., University of California San Francisco, Urology , 400 Parnassus Avenue , San Francisco, California, United States , 94143 ; ., University of California San Francisco, 8785, Urology, San Francisco, California, United States ; ., University of California San Francisco, Urology , 400 Parnassus Ave , 6th floor Urology Clinics A638 , San Francisco, California, United States , 94143 ; .