Patient-Friendly Summary of the ACR Appropriateness Criteria Acute Onset Flank Pain —Suspicion of Stone Disease (Urolithiasis)

Kidney stones form from salts in urine and can travel through or block the ureter, the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder. Stones can cause sharp pain on one or  both side(s) of the body between the upper belly area and the back, often called flank pain. Flank pain can also be caused by other things such as appendicitis or diverticulitis (inflamed pouches of the bowel).
Source: Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Appropriate use criteria Source Type: research