The efficacy of radiographic anatomical measurement methods in predicting success after extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy for lower pole kidney stones

Abstract

ARTICLE INFO ______________________________________________________________ ______________________Objectives: To assess the impact of lower pole calyceal anatomy on clearace of lower pole stones after extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) by means of a new and previously defined radiographic measurement method. Materials and Methods:Sixty-four patients with solitary radiopaque lower pole kidney stones were enrolled in the study. Infundibulopelvic angle (IPA), infundibulotransverse angle (ITA), infundibular lenght(IL), and infundibular width (IW) were measured on the intravenous urographies which were taken before the procedure. Results: 48 of 64 patients (75%) were stone-free after a follow-up period of 3 months. The IPA,ITA,IL and IW were determined as statistically significant factors, while age,gender and stone area were found to have no impact on clearance. Conclusion: By the help of radiographic measurement methods related to lower pole kidney anatomy, appropriate patient selection and increment in success after ESWL may be achieved.

Endourological Options for Small (< 2 cm) Lower Pole Stones — Does the Lower Pole Angle Matter?

“…Few studies have directly compared different IPA measurement methods in SWL efficacy. Arpali and colleagues retrospectively analysed the radiological renal anatomy of patients who underwent SWL, with respect to their success rate; they applied both the Sampaio (1997) and Elbahnasy measurement for calculating the IPA in the same set of patients [ 21 ]. The mean IPA for all patients using the Sampaio and Elbahnasy measurement were 91.92° and 47.1°, respectively, suggesting that using different methods to calculate IPA can yield very different readings.…”