Initial vs Confirmatory tests

[StudentDoctorM]

Hi guys,

I am taking my COMLEX CE next Monday and am still struggling with understand when to use what..
For example, why do we use KUB for kidney stones instead of Ultrasound, but Ultrasound for gallstones.

I might be being too optimistic.. but are there charts/ resources out there that lists the initial vs confirmatory tests for diseases/ presentations?

Thank you.

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[Nabin]

I think we seldom use X-ray KUB nowadays for initial diagnosis because it can miss small stones, uric acid stones, obstructions, etc. Guess you won't be wrong starting with it because ultimately we use helical CT to diagnose anyway since it is widely available. U/S can miss small stones and ureteral stones but will pick up uric acid stones and obstructions, and would be preferable in patients where you would want to avoid radiation.

 

[dfib slim]

https://acsearch.acr.org/list

 

[ortnakas]

OnlineMedEd has some good flowcharts. Might be hard to get through and/or find the right ones in the next few days but it's the best thing I an think of.

 

[StudentDoctorM]

https://acsearch.acr.org/list

Thank you!
That's what I am looking for.

And thank you everyone who answered too!