Renal colic: an update

Abstract

The prevalence of renal colic is 20 % with a high recurrence rate. It remains a frequent reason for consultation in the emergency room. In case of uncertainty about the diagnosis, a decisional aide, the STONE score, can be used. Low-dose CT remains the standard, but studies show a role for ultrasound in the diagnosis to reduce the costs and cumulative effects of radiation. Most simple renal colics are treated with medical expulsive therapy which consists of anti-inflammatory, and an alpha blocker. It is important to identify patients who require urgent urological consultation or follow-up by urologists.