AJR May 1999; 172: 1199-1206

Julia R. Fielding, Stuart G. Silverman, Geoffrey D. Rubin

In uroradiology, the advent of helical CT has had a significant impact on clinical practice in four major areas: renal mass characterization, ureteral stone detection, renal angiography, and surgical planning. Optimal use of helical CT in evaluating the urinary tract requires significant input by radiologists. They must use meticulous technique—choosing the appropriate contrast medium, collimation, table speed, total scanning time, and image reconstruction interval for each scan. In this review, we discuss the recent advances helical CT has brought to uroradiology, with attention to technique and interpretation. We also speculate on the future role of helical CT in the subspecialty.