title: Spiral computed tomography for staghorn calculi.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the utility of spiral computed tomography (CT) with three-dimensional reconstruction for preoperative planning of percutaneous nephrostolithotomy in patients with complex branched calculi (full staghorns).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with complex branched stones were imaged with spiral CT with three-dimensional reconstruction. These images were compared with standard imaging modalities, including excretory urography and plain radiographs, for planning percutaneous access for nephrostolithotomy. The utility of the scan was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten patients with branched calculi were studied. Anatomic abnormalities were present in 5 patients. Excellent three-dimensional images were obtained in all patients without any complications related to the study. In 1 patient with multiple calculi in a horseshoe kidney, the three-dimensional image indicated a branched stone. The spiral CT scan was not helpful in directing percutaneous access in any patient. In a single patient, residual fragments noted during nephrostolithotomy were located by reference to the spiral CT scan.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spiral CT scans with three-dimensional reconstruction provide three-dimensional imaging of branched renal calculi. This modality provides minimal additional information over that obtained from standard radiographic studies for guiding nephrostolithotomy and cannot be recommended as a routine preoperative study. It was helpful in 1 patient to locate a residual fragment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107-5083, USA.
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Liberman
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Halpern
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Bagley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007682:Kidney Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed