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Urology (Expert Forum)
Phleboliths ?
Questions in the Urology forum are answered by Dr. Stephen Liroff, affiliated with the Henry Ford Hospital. Topics covered include benign prostate disease, penis curvature, cystisis, kidney stones, pediatric urology, prostate, sexual dysfunction, urinary tract infections (UTI), and urological cancers.
Phleboliths ?
by GRK__0, Jul 09, 1999 12:00AM
Posted by GRK on July 09, 1999 at 09:58:25
My wife has been having pain in the back. The Doctor suspected of kidney stones and asked her to go for a x-ray. While it is mentioned that 'no radio-opaque renal or ureteric calculi or seen', it is also mentioned as follows :
'Several rounded densities are demonstrated in pelvis. There are likely to represent phleboliths'.
What are phleboliths ? What should be next action from our side ? The doctor has recommended a ultrasound scan.
Thanks,
GRK
Posted by HFHS M.D.-AK on July 09, 1999 at 13:55:47
A phlebolith itself is harmless and I wouldn’t worry about it. It is usually a calcified vessel in the pelvis that is commonly seen on X-rays. When dealing with kidney stones, it is important to delineate between a phlebolith and a stone. Your IVP should show the dye filling the ureter and the phlebolith outside the ureter, or your doctor would have done other testing. If your IVP was normal, showing prompt excretion of contrast and normal function, you should not have anything to worry about. If you have pain or another reason to suspect that your kidney is blocked, a non-contrast CT scan can be done to look for a stone vs. a phlebolith. I would not get another doctors opinion if the only concern you have is the phebolith and you are clinically asymptomatic.
This information is provided for general medical educational purposes only. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options pertaining to your specific medical condition. More individualized care is available at the Henry Ford Hospital and its satellites (1 800 653-6568).
Sincerely,
HFHS M.D.-AK
*keyword:Kidney stones
