Loss of urocystolith architectural clarity during in vivo radiographic simulation versus in vitro visualization

Urocystoliths of 9 mineral types from 434 canine patients submitted to the University of Minnesota Urolith Bank mere imaged in a urinary bladder phant om, Imaging techniques simulated were survey radiography and double contras t cystography. Morphologic characteristics visually observed in vitro or by interpretation of high-resolution specimen radiographs were compared to th ose seen using the simulated in vivo imaging techniques. Shape characterist ics that mere accurately detected greater than or equal to 25% of the time on simulated survey or double contrast radiography were faceted, irregular, jackstone, ovoid, and round. Surface characteristics that mere accurately detected greater than or equal to 25% of the time on simulated survey or do uble contrast radiography were rough, smooth, and smooth with blunt tips. I nternal architecture characteristics that were accurately detected greater than or equal to 25% of the time on simulated survey or double contrast rad iography mere lucent center, random-nonuniform, and uniform, Shapes such as bosselated, faceted-ovoid, and rosette; surfaces such as botryoidal, and k nife-edged; and internal architecture characteristics such as dense tenter, dense shell, laminated, and fissures mere of almost no value either due to poor detectability or poor accuracy of recognition. Based on optimized sim ulated survey and double contrast radiographic procedures, it appears that a number of shape, surface, and internal architecture characteristics may b e of limited or no value in discriminating among urocystolith mineral types under clinical circumstances, Shapes and surfaces were more accurately cha racterized by the simulated double contrast technique, but for internal arc hitecture, the simulated survey radiographic technique seemed slightly supe rior overall.