Sarita Choudhary Sarita Choudhary Asked 8 months ago

Can mri detect kidney stones?

Some dull pain in my side has been persistent, and my doctor is suggesting a scan to rule out kidney stones. I was wondering, is an MRI capable of detecting kidney stones accurately?

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5 answers

Siddharth Roy Siddharth Roy Joined Mar 2026 8 months ago
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When I had severe back pain last year, they actually did an ultrasound first and then a non-contrast CT scan to find my kidney stones. My doctor told me CT scans are much better than MRIs for spotting stones quickly.

Aditya Sen Aditya Sen Joined Jan 2026 8 months ago

While an MRI can technically show kidney stones, it is not the preferred choice. CT scans or ultrasounds are much more sensitive and cost-effective for detecting calcium stones. It's best to let your urologist decide which scan is right for you.

Subramanian Swamy Subramanian Swamy Joined Jan 2026 8 months ago

In our family, we always use barley water to flush out kidney heat, but for proper diagnosis, we must trust the hospital. Usually, they do a CT scan rather than an MRI to find stones clearly. Please consult your physician for the right guidance.

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Consult a urologist

Saraswathi Iyer Saraswathi Iyer Joined Feb 2026 8 months ago

For checking kidney stones, doctors usually rely on simpler scans like ultrasound. Along with whatever the doctor suggests, drinking lots of warm water and practicing mild yoga stretches can help pass very small stones naturally. Take care.

Shalini Nair Shalini Nair Joined Apr 2026 6 months ago

Honestly, MRIs are not very good at showing calcified stones, so they aren't the go-to test for kidney stones. A low-dose CT scan or a simple ultrasound is what we usually see doctors prescribing for this. Do ask your clinic about it.

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