title: Ureteral metallic stents: application of virtual endoscopy for ureteral patency control.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the present study we have applied virtual endoscopy (VE) in patients with ureteral metallic stents as a follow-up tool study especially in the need to define ureteral patency.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed the suggested technique in 6 patients with malignant ureteral obstruction treated successfully by placement of Wallstent intraureteral metallic stents, and correlated the results with antegrade nephrostomography 48 hours after initial stent placement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2 patients restenosis was observed, and in the remaining 4 patients the stented ureters remained patent during the follow up evaluation. VE and antegrade nephrostomography, were concurrent as to their findings. Moreover, VE proceeds beyond the stenotic segment, allowing visualization of the ureteral lumen both cephalad and caudal to the point of obstruction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VE is providing indeed a more accurate, direct and dynamic approach in the evaluation of a strictured ureteral lumen within the metallic stent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Patras, School of Medicine, Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Siablis
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Kagadis
authors.forename: Evangelos N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Liatsikos
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kalogeropoulou
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Petsas
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karnabatidis
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Voudoukis
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Sakelaropoulos
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nikiforidis
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Barbalias
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014516:Ureteral Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D018666:Ureteroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D014563:Urodynamics; D014584:User-Computer Interface
chemical_list: D008670:Metals