title: [Controversy on lower pole stones: monitor or intervene?].
abstract: For many years, the treatment options of lower pole stones have been discussed controversially: Watchful waiting, shock wave lithotripsy, flexible ureterorenoscopy and percutaneous litholapaxy. Small lower pole stones <1 cm can be monitored actively. Shock waves can disintegrate the stones and are recommended for stones <1 cm. However, the stone-free rate is limited because of the particular anatomy of the lower pole. Modern flexible ureterorenoscopes can nowadays reach even anatomically unfavourable lower calyxes. For stones <1 cm good stone-free results can be achieved. For larger stones >2 cm percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) is the standard treatment modality.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Urologie, Universitätsmedizin Mannheim, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68135 Mannheim, Deutschland. axel.haecker@umm.de
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Häcker
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Michel
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000601:surgery*; D007670:Kidney Calices / Q000601:surgery*; D008096:Lithotripsy; D009403:Nephrostomy, Percutaneous; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018666:Ureteroscopy; D057832:Watchful Waiting