title: The role of radiology in extracorporeal shock wave therapy.
abstract: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy was used for the treatment of 1,252 kidneys and ureters with calculi during a 10-month period at the authors' medical center. Before lithotripsy was performed, excretory urography, radiography, renography, computed tomography, and ultrasound studies were done, when necessary, to locate the calculi. Nine calculi in five kidneys could not be fragmented with lithotripsy. Of 895 patients with calculi less than 2.5 cm in diameter, only 13 (1.5%) required interventional procedures to clear the calculi, whereas of 161 patients with calculi greater than or equal to 2.5 cm, 36 (22.4%) required nephrostomies. A column of calculous debris in the mid and distal portions of the ureter (steinstrasse) was seen in 171 instances (13.6%) after lithotripsy; 62% required interventions. The most common intervention required for successful lithotripsy was retrograde ureteral catheterization. Evaluation and treatment of patients with urolithiasis were largely dependent on radiography and excretory urography.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville 22908.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Kellum
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Tegtmeyer
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Gillenwater
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Wyker
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lippert
mesh_terms: D004724:Endoscopy; D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000009:adverse effects; D009403:Nephrostomy, Percutaneous; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014513:Ureter; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D014567:Urography