Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
X-ray signs that show bladder stone types in dogs
By Pulido Vega, Diego et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2025·Service of Diagnostic Imaging, France·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: In Vivo Radiographic Characteristics Associated With the Mineral Composition of Calcium Oxalate, Struvite, and Cystine Lower Urinary Tract Uroliths in Dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 202 dogs with urinary stones (uroliths) were studied to understand how different types of stones appear on X-rays. The study found that calcium oxalate stones were often very visible on X-rays and had unique shapes, while struvite stones were larger and had a pyramidal shape. Cystine stones were less visible and had a different density. Knowing these characteristics can help veterinarians identify the type of stone without surgery, which can guide the best treatment options for your dog.
People also search for: dog urinary stones treatment · how to identify dog bladder stones · calcium oxalate stones in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Identifying urolith mineral composition (UMC) is crucial for treatment and prevention; however, current data rely on macroscopic or ex vivo studies. OBJECTIVES: To describe in vivo radiographic characteristics of canine lower urinary tract (LUT) uroliths and identify discriminating radiographic features among UMC types. ANIMALS: Two hundred and two dogs with LUT uroliths composed of ≥ 70% calcium oxalate (n = 109), struvite (n = 58), or cystine (n = 35). METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Radiographs were evaluated for urolith size, shape, surface, borders, internal architecture, and quantitative radiopacity, and also assessed using a ratio of urolith-to-L5 vertebra pixel values (UOR). The diagnostic performance of urolith size and UOR was assessed with receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves, calculating the area under the ROC curve (AUC). RESULTS: Calcium oxalate uroliths were often highly radiopaque, associated with concurrent nephroliths, had unique shapes such as bosselated or spiculated, and less commonly ovoid. Struvite uroliths were larger (median: 15 mm; IQR: 8.1-25.8 mm) with a cut-off of ≥ 11 mm (AUC = 0.82, p < 0.001; specificity: 91%, sensitivity: 67%) and were associated with pyramidal shapes or solitary cystoliths. Cystine uroliths had lower radiopacity (median UOR: 0.71; IQR: 0.63-0.80), with a cut-off of UOR ≤ 0.83 (AUC = 0.81, p < 0.001; specificity: 67%, sensitivity: 84%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: In vivo radiographic characteristics such as size, shape, and radiopacity can help differentiate LUT mineral compositions, enabling non-invasive diagnosis and guiding treatment.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41001835/