title: Mechanical lithotripsy of large gallstones: correlation with CT characteristics.
abstract: The CT characteristics of gallstones were correlated with mechanical forces required to fragment calculi in vitro. Forty-two gallstones > or = 11 mm in largest diameter were subjected to in vitro CT scanning and categorized as isodense, faint, laminated, rimmed, or dense as compared with saline. A mechanical lithotripter, attached to a dynamometer, was utilized simulating in vivo technique to accomplish lithotripsy. Significantly more force was required to fracture CT-dense (p < 0.02) and CT-rimmed (p < 0.05) gallstones than was required to fracture CT-isodense gallstones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Halsey
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wolak
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Schulte
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Yates
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Kimmey
mesh_terms: D042882:Gallstones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed