Imaging Follow-up for Patients with Kidney Stones: European Association of Urology Versus American Urological Association Guidelines.

We compared guidelines on imaging follow-up for urolithiasis from the European Association of Urology and the American Urological Association. The length of imaging follow-up recommended depends on factors that include the type of stone and the size of residual fragments, but recommendations are based on low-level evidence. There is a need to balance any benefits from imaging-follow-up against the potential harms of radiation exposure and costs to the health care system. PATIENT SUMMARY: For patients with kidney stones, follow-up scans may be recommended after treatment to check that the stones have been cleared and are not growing again. Doctors should take into account the need to minimize radiation exposure and costs when deciding the schedule for follow-up scans.