Start with the scan that shows the stone now
The single most useful item is the imaging that currently shows the stone, together with its written report. For urinary stones this is usually a CT scan, and sometimes an ultrasound or X-ray. Send the images themselves, not only the report, because a reviewing urologist needs to see stone size, position, number, and whether there is obstruction or hydronephrosis.
Label each scan with the date it was performed and which side it concerns. A report saying 'right renal calculus' is far more useful when the reader can match it to a specific dated study. If you have two scans weeks or months apart, send both: the change between them is often as informative as either one alone.
If the images are on a hospital CD or a download link, say so and describe the format. If you only have the paper report, send that and state clearly that the images are not yet available. That is a normal starting point, not a reason to delay your enquiry.
- Most recent CT, ultrasound or X-ray images, with the radiologist's report
- Date of each scan and the side it relates to
- Any earlier stone imaging, so the trend can be seen
- Format: CD, download link, or paper report only
Add the records that explain your stone history
Ureteroscopy uses a telescope passed through the urinary tract to treat stones, and treatment may be staged across more than one session. That is why a reviewer wants to know what has already been done, not just what is there now. A short typed history is easier to read than a folder of discharge summaries.
List every previous stone procedure with its date and hospital: shock wave lithotripsy, ureteroscopy, percutaneous surgery, or a stent insertion. Note whether stones were cleared or whether fragments remain. Include relevant blood tests such as kidney function, and urine tests if an infection was found or treated.
If you take blood-thinning or antiplatelet medication, or you have a bleeding disorder, say so in the summary. Do not stop or change any medication on your own; that decision belongs to the treating clinician, and it is one of the questions to raise rather than resolve by email.
- Dated list of previous stone procedures and whether stones were cleared
- Kidney function and relevant urine test results
- Blood-thinning or antiplatelet medication, and any bleeding disorder
- Other major conditions, allergies, and current medicines
If a stent is in place, describe it precisely
A temporary ureteric stent may need a later removal appointment, so its details matter for planning. State the date it was inserted, which side, and whether you were given a removal date or a removal plan. If you have a stent card or discharge letter naming the stent, send a photo or scan of it.
Also describe symptoms you attribute to the stent, such as pain, urgency, or visible blood in urine, and whether they are stable or worsening. This is not a diagnosis; it tells the reviewing team what needs clarifying first.
If you are unsure whether a stent is still in place, say that plainly. A missing detail is easier to handle than an incorrect one, and the treating team can confirm it with imaging or records rather than assumption.
- Insertion date, side, and any planned removal date
- Stent card or discharge letter, if you have one
- Current symptoms and whether they are stable or worsening
- A clear note if you are unsure whether a stent remains
Write the one question your records must answer
Before you send anything, write one sentence naming the decision you are trying to make. Planning examples might be: 'Is the stone still treatable by ureteroscopy, or has it moved or grown since the last scan?' or 'Can the stent be removed and the remaining fragment treated in one visit, or will this need two?' These are examples of the kind of question to phrase, not predictions about your case.
Why this matters: the answer changes what the reviewer needs. A question about whether treatment is still suitable needs the newest imaging. A question about staging needs the operative notes and stent details. A question about timing needs your travel constraints and the treating team's own scheduling rules, which only the hospital can confirm.
Keep the summary to roughly one page. A reviewer who can see the question, the dated scans, and the procedure history can identify what is missing far faster than one working through an unlabelled archive.
- One sentence naming the decision you need help with
- The records that directly support that decision
- Your main constraint, such as travel dates or work commitments
- What you have already been told locally, and by whom
What to do when scans or reports are missing
Missing records are common. The practical response is to send what exists, list what is absent, and ask whether the reviewing hospital needs it before it can give a useful opinion. Do not arrange new imaging on your own to fill a gap; whether a repeat scan is needed, and when, is a clinical decision for the treating team.
If you are between scans and your symptoms are stable, that is usually workable for an initial records review. If symptoms are worsening, seek local clinical care first rather than waiting on an overseas enquiry.
Ask the hospital directly how it prefers to receive images, whether reports need translation, and whether a records-based opinion can be given before you travel. These are administrative questions with hospital-specific answers, so treat any general answer as something to confirm rather than a rule.
- Send existing records and state clearly what is missing
- Ask whether the hospital needs anything further before reviewing
- Do not order new tests yourself; ask the treating team
- Confirm image format, translation needs, and review scope with the hospital
Sources & scope of this guide
References and official service information relevant to this guide.
This is general planning information and has not been individually reviewed by a doctor. Medical decisions and personal treatment advice come from your treating clinicians.