title: Percutaneous nephroscopy in the diagnosis of renal pelvic filling defect: a report of two cases.
abstract: The major differential diagnosis of a radiolucent filling defect within the renal pelvis is among tumor, blood clot and radiolucent stone. In some cases, it is difficult to distinguish tumor from other benign lesions by imaging study. Two patients with renal pelvic filling defect were diagnosed by percutaneous nephroscopy, using the 27 Fr. rigid nephroscope (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan). Both patients got conclusive diagnosis by percutaneous nephroscopy; the morbidity was extremely minimal. The diagnostic percutaneous nephroscopy was a safe and effective procedure with minimal morbidity. For those patients without a conclusive diagnosis in noninvasive procedures, the percutaneous nephroscopy could be an alternative for flexible ureteroscopy, especially for the extremely tortuous ureters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Veterans General Hospital-Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007682:Kidney Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography