title: Malignant ureteral obstruction: treatment with metal stents--technique, results, and observations with percutaneous intraluminal US.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the technical feasibility and results of placement of metal stents into ureters obstructed by extensive tumor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six consecutive patients (two men and four women, aged 35-66 years and with incurable malignancies) underwent insertion of metallic endoprostheses in nine obstructed ureters through percutaneous tracts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Metal stents were inserted without technical difficulty in all obstructed ureters. The stents functioned well in four patients. In two patients, the metal were not tolerated and plastic double-J stents were placed through the metal stents; this permitted effective functioning and withdrawal of the protective external catheter. Intraluminal ultrasonography depicted stent clogging and debris, dimensions of stent opening, and tumor level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Insertion of metal stents in the ureter is technically straightforward and was well tolerated by patients. However, the efficacy is variable, and a greater beneficial effect than is achieved with plastic stents is not established.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego Medical Center.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: vanSonnenberg
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: D'Agostino
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: O'Laoide
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donaldson
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoyt
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Pittman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D011677:Punctures; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D015607:Stents; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014513:Ureter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals