Urethral calculi: presentation and management.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the occurrence, symptoms, treatment and outcome in patients with urethral stones.


METHODS
Fifty-one consecutive patients with urethral calculi were assessed prospectively; all were male and one was an infant.


RESULTS
Acute retention of urine occurred in 78% of patients, urethral anatomical pathology in 6% and posterior urethral calculi in 88%. The urethral stones, solitary in each patient, consisted of calcium oxalate in 86%, struvite in 6%, mixed stones in 4%, calcium phosphate in 2% and uric acid in 2%. A methodical approach to therapy was used which aimed to clearly define the circumstances in which a given procedure was used, and the resulting success rate.


CONCLUSIONS
The common belief that most urethral calculi in patients in developing countries originate from the bladder does not seem to be generally applicable. Urethral anatomical pathology does not seem to be a necessary condition for most of these calculi.
Department of Urology, King Fahd Hospital of the University, King Faisal University, Al-Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. drbaherkamal@yahoo.com
B A
BA
Kamal
R M
RM
Anikwe
H
H
Darawani
M
M
Hashish
S A
SA
Taha
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014522:Urethral Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D014545:Urinary Calculi / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy