title: The efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy on single dense calcified gallstones according to computed tomography.
abstract: The efficacy and complications of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for single gallstones were compared between 15 patients with a CT-lucent stone and 18 patients with a dense calcified stone. In all of five patients with a stone smaller than 10 mm in diameter, complete or sufficient clearance was observed, regardless of calcification. However, in 28 patients with a stone larger than 11 mm in diameter, the rates of complete or sufficient clearance were lower in those with a dense calcified stone (64%) than in those with a computed tomography (CT) lucent stone (93%). There was no difference in the rate of complications between patients with a CT-lucent stone and those with a dense calcified stone. These results thus suggest that extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy may be safely employed for patients with a single calcified gallstone.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Surgery, Mie University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimono
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moriyama
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Umegae
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nagata
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome