title: The endourological treatment of renal matrix stones.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report our experience with the endourological treatment of renal matrix stones, an infrequent form of urinary calculi whose diagnosis and treatment are often difficult.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1990 to 2010 we treated 9 female patients with matrix calculi using the endourological approach; 4 presented with renal colics, 3 with symptomatic urinary tract infection and 2 with asymptomatic bacteriuria. Six patients underwent percutaneous lithotripsy and 3 retrograde intrarenal surgery as first-line therapy. Three cases needed a multidisciplinary approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The six percutaneous procedures were successful after a single session, while the retrograde approach required multiple treatments; a single case needed a shock wave session to complete the fragmentation, in another one a percutaneous lithotripsy was necessary after the first procedure, and a third case needed multidisciplinary treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous lithotripsy has been confirmed as the first option for matrix stones. The retrograde approach - by confirming the suspected diagnosis and being minimally invasive - may be employed to treat either lower-size stones or stones at high risk of recurrence.
authors: Urology Clinic, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Gastroenterological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Beltrami
authors: Lorenzo
authors: L
authors: Ruggera
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Guttilla
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Iannetti
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Zattoni
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Gigli
authors: Patrizia
authors: P
authors: Bernich
authors: Filiberto
authors: F
authors: Zattoni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000379:methods*; D017602:Lithotripsy, Laser; D008875:Middle Aged; D009403:Nephrostomy, Percutaneous / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome