Comparative Evaluation of Urinary Tract Tuberculosis by Ultrasonography and MDCT

Purpose - This article reviews and compares the ultrasonography (USG) and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) features of urinary tract tuberculosis (UTB). Materials& Methods- A prospective and retrospective study of 25 consecutive patients was conducted in patients who presented to the OPD or Emergency department, or who were admitted with suspected urinary tract tuberculosis and underwent imaging tests with USG and MDCT. Results- USG in comparison to CT was able to identify 142 features (77 % of the findings) and failed to identify 43 features which were seen on CT (23 % of the findings) of which majority were ureteric changes (48 % of the missed findings) followed by extra renal involvement (37 % of the missed findings). Conclusion- USG is a readily available and initial technique for demonstrating the various morphologic abnormalities found in urinary tract TB and plays a valuable role in serial monitoring of lesions. However, MDCT is more accurate, it has advantages of being able to better assess the renal parenchyma, the surrounding spaces and extra-renal involvement.