Evaluation of chemical composition of urinary calculi in vivo based on gray scale ultrasound

Abstract

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to preliminarily predict the chemical composition of urinary calculi using ultrasound in vivo. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the data of 267 patients with urinary calculi, including non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) and ultrasound imaging data obtained before intervention, as well as the chemical composition after intervention. Statistical analysis was performed on the Hounsfield unit (HU) value of the calculi, the grayscale value of the calculi, and the grayscale value of the posterior acoustic shadow of the calculi on ultrasound. Results The chemical composition analysis indicated that there were four types of mixed calculi; the main components were calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) calculi, calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD) calculi, carbonate apatite (CA) calculi and anhydrous uric acid (UA0) calculi. The HU value discriminated between calcium-containing calculi and UA0 calculi, with a cut-off value of 644.00, a sensitivity of 88.00% and a specificity of 95.04%, and P < 0.001. The grayscale value of the calculi on ultrasound discriminated between calcium-containing calculi and UA0 calculi with a cut-off value of 200.29, a sensitivity of 38.84% and a specificity of 96.00%, P < 0.001. The grayscale value of the posterior acoustic shadow of the calculi on ultrasound discriminated between CA calculi and UA0 calculi with a cut-off value of 31.48, a sensitivity of 58.33% and a specificity of 84.00%, and P = 0.011. Conclusion Ultrasound can preliminarily distinguish the chemical composition of urinary calculi and provide certain information for clinicians to choose treatment plans.