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Medication-induced renal stone

Case contributed by Matt A. Morgan
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Right flank pain.

Patient Data

Age: 50 years
Gender: Male

Low dose CT

ct

No renal stone seen in the right kidney.

One month earlier

ultrasound

Shadowing calculus in the interpolar right kidney, measured at 9 x 15 mm.

Normal dose CT one month prior

ct

There is a faintly hyperattenuating area in the right interpolar kidney at a medullary pyramid tip.

Annotated image

On these annotated images, the arrow points to a faintly hyperattenuating interpolar stone.

Case Discussion

Relatively radiolucent stones are a potential blind spot for low dose CT. It was tempting to read the low dose CT as "no renal stone", but when comparing with prior studies there had been a shadowing calculus at the interpolar kidney. When looking at the most recent CT available before that, there was a faintly hyperattenuating area at an interpolar kidney medullary pyramid tip.

Although uncommon, this suggested that the patient may have a radiolucent stone / matrix / medication-induced stone. On review of the patient's chart he had been administered antiretrovirals (dolutegravir/rilpivirine), and this class of medications has been associated with matrix stones.

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