Diagnostic facilities of methods of ultrasound diagnostics in urolithiasis in children

There are presented data of the integrated ultrasound (US) examination of 85 children with urolithiasis (IBC) at the age of from 3 months up to 17 years. In traditional ultrasound study (in gray scale mode), the main criterion for the presence of stone - distal acoustic «shadow» was evaluated in dependence on its intensity from 0 to 4 scores. When using color Doppler mapping (CDM) there was established the existence of flaring artifact (FA), which occurred in the reflection of the ultrasonic wave from the reflective stone structure. According to the density index (DI) the presence and density of calculus were detected with the use of Acoustic Structure Quantification (ASQ) methodology for quantifying the structure. The obtained data were compared with data of computed tomography (CT). It has been established that in case of the presence of the «shadow» accounted of 4 scores, FA has been clearly defined, DI ranged from 5,5 to 6,8, CT indices exceed 1100-1500 Hu. When the severity of the «shadow» was of 3 scores, FA remained to be intensive, DI was in the range of 3,5-5,5 and CT density ranged from 800 to 1100 Hu. «Shadow» at 2 scores came from the central department of calculus, FA spectrum corresponded to its width, DI ranged from 3,5 to 2,0 and CT radiodensity - 250 to 800 Hu. Weak «shadow» at 1 score corresponds to a low density stone, FA was narrow, DI ranged from 2,0 to 1,5. At 0 score DI was less than 0,9 and easily permitted ultrasound through. Established patterns indicate to the feasibility of the integrated use of ultrasonic methods in the evaluation of the density of the stone in preparing the patient for performing remote lithotripsy.