[Clinical value of CT-perfusion in patients with ureteric stones]

INTRODUCTION

Urinary stone disease is one of the most significant urologic diseases, since its prevalence increases annually, which makes it necessary to study and improve effective preventive measures, diagnostic methods and to implement new treatment interventions.

AIM

to study changes in blood flow in the renal cortex and medulla in patients with ureteral stones using CT perfusion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 2017 to 2019, a total of 53 patients with upper ureteric stones were evaluated at the Russian-Japanese Center for Imaging and the Institute of Urology and Reproductive Health of the FGAOU VO I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University. Preoperatively, all patients underwent CT perfusion. The study was performed on a Toshiba Aquilion One 640 in volume mode with a slice thickness of 0.5 mm. In this study, blood flow changes were evaluated depending on the degree of dilatation of collecting system.

RESULTS

In patients without dilatation of the collecting system, the average values of cortical and medullary blood flow and blood volume were within normal values. In patients with a dilatation of collecting system, there were significant differences cortical and medullary blood flow between the affected renal unit and contralateral side (27% and 34%, respectively). A decrease in cortical and medullar perfusion by 55% and 58%, respectively, in patients with the dilatation of calyxes was more pronounced in comparison with a decrease in perfusion in patients with the dilatation of only the ureter and pelvis.

CONCLUSION

CT perfusion performed on the 640-slice CT scan allows an objective assessment of changes in renal blood flow in patients with ureteric stones.

[Modern radiology diagnostics methods for assessment of renal perfusion in patients with urinary stone disease]

Urinary stone disease is the current issue for healthcare system worldwide. High prevalence of urinary stone disease (at least 5% of the population of developed countries) determines clinical significance of the studying of its etiology and pathogenesis, improving of diagnostic methods and novel treatment technologies. The development of endoscopic devices, creation of new eswl machines and improvement of endourology interventions under X-ray guidance allowed to solve the problem of surgical treatment. Therefore, one of the actual issue is the choice of X-ray method for predicting and evaluating of treatment efficiency in patients with urinary stone disease. The changes of renal blood flow depend on urodynamic disturbances, stone location and size, the duration of disease, complications, patients age. Therefore, for comprehensive studying of renal function the hemodynamics evaluation is needed. In this review the advantages, drawbacks and perspective on developing of different radiologic methods for renal hemodynamic assessment are given.

[Extracorporeal and contact lithotripsy for large ureteral stones]

Expert panels of AUA and EAU defined highly effective approaches to surgical treatment of ureterolithiasis and recommended extracorporeal and contact lithotripsy as the main options. Therapeutic strategy for ureteral stones measuring less than 10 mm is clearly defined and supported by the Russian Society of Urology. At the same time, the views of researchers on the management of large ureteral stones vary. This literature review provides information on the results of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy and contact ureterolithotripsy of large stones located in various parts of the ureter. Besides, the article outlines the results of treating ureterolithiasis using the second line surgical modalities.

[Principles of surgical treatment of patients with renal tumor and coexistent contralateral kidney stone]

AIM

To determine the treatment strategy for patients with renal tumors and coexistent contralateral kidney stone.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 2006 to 2015, 1380 and 4833 patients underwent surgery for renal tumours and kidney stones, respectively. The combination of stone disease and renal tumor was found in 159 (11.5%) patients, of whom 61 patients had indications for surgical treatment of both diseases at the time of hospital admission. Of these, 17 (27.9%) patients (8 men and 9 women) had renal tumors and coexistent contralateral kidney stone.

RESULTS

Initial surgery for stones was performed in 10 (58.8%) cases. In the remaining 7 (41.2%) patients, the first operation was for renal tumors. None of the patients underwent simultaneous removal of the contralateral kidney stone. The most common types of treatment for kidney stones were percutaneous nephrolithotripsy and extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy. Twelve (70.6%) patients underwent partial nephrectomy, the remaining 5 (29.4%) had nephrectomy. In total, 17 patients with renal tumors and coexistent contralateral kidney stones were treated using 11 different treatment combinations. These results show the need to define treatment strategies for each patient individually, taking into account all possible factors.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with renal tumors and coexistent contralateral kidney stone, the basic principle of surgical treatment is to perform an organ-sparing surgery, given technical feasibility and normal function of kidney, affected by the tumor.

Managing caliceal stones

The natural course of untreated asymptomatic caliceal calculi has not been clearly defined, especially in terms of disease progression, and the indications for and outcomes of surgical intervention are not precise. Caliceal stones may remain asymptomatic but, in case of migration, ureteral calculi can cause acute ureteric colic with severe complications. The decision for an active treatment of caliceal calculi is based on stone composition, stone size and symptoms. Extracorporal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) has a low complication rate and is recommended by the current guidelines of the European Association of Urology as a first-line therapy for the treatment of caliceal stones <2 cm in diameter. However, immediate stone removal is not achieved with ESWL. The primary stone-free rates (SFR) after ESWL depend on stone site and composition and, especially for lower pole calculi, the SFR differ widely from other caliceal stones. Minimally-invasive procedures including percutaneous nephrolithotomy and ureteroscopy are alternatives for the treatment of caliceal stones, associated with low morbidity and high primary SFR when performed in centers of excellence.

New developments in diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis is progressive and irreversible, leading to digestive and absorptive disorders by destruction of the exocrine pancreas and to diabetes mellitus by destruction of the endocrine pancreas. When complications such as pancreatolithiasis and pseudocyst occur, elevated pancreatic ductal pressure exacerbates pain and induces other complications, worsening the patient's general condition. Combined treatment with extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy and endoscopic lithotripsy is a useful, minimally invasive, first-line treatment approach that can preserve pancreatic exocrine function. Pancreatic duct stenosis elevates intraductal pressure and favor both pancreatolithiasis and pseudocyst formation, making effective treatment vitally important. Endoscopic treatment of benign pancreatic duct stenosis stenting frequently decreases pain in chronic pancreatitis. Importantly, stenosis of the main pancreatic duct increases risk of stone recurrence after treatment of pancreatolithiasis. Recently, good results were reported in treating pancreatic duct stricture with a fully covered self-expandable metallic stent, which shows promise for preventing stone recurrence after lithotripsy in patients with pancreatic stricture. Chronic pancreatitis has many complications including pancreatic carcinoma, pancreatic atrophy, and loss of exocrine and endocrine function, as well as frequent recurrence of stones after treatment of pancreatolithiasis. As early treatment of chronic pancreatitis is essential, the new concept of early chronic pancreatitis, including characteristics findings in endoscopic ultrasonograms, is presented.

Disseminated tuberculosis after extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy in an AIDS patient presenting with urosepsis

Haematogenous dissemination of undiagnosed urinary tuberculosis after performing extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is extremely rare. Herein, we report a 41-year-old male who presented with urosepsis to the emergency room; catheterization was performed and retention resolved. He had a tattoo on his left arm and a five-year history of intravenous drug use. Blood tests indicated anaemia, leukocytosis, elevated CRP and ESR and mild hyponatraemia; haematuria, moderate bacteriuria and 2+ proteinuria on urinanalysis were observed. Chest X-ray revealed lesions suggestive of miliary tuberculosis, which was confirmed by chest CT scan. Brain CT and MRI suggested brain involvement in the setting of tuberculosis. On further investigations, HIV infection and hepatitis C seropositivity were detected and the patient remained in a coma for five days with a Glasgow Coma Scale of 6/15. Finally, the diagnosis of haematogenous dissemination of tuberculosis following lithotripsy was established. Anti-tuberculosis and anti-retroviral therapy were prescribed and monthly follow-up visits were scheduled. In conclusion, in a patient diagnosed with ureterolithiasis, a thorough history and physical examination, with specific attention to HIV and tuberculosis predisposing factors, should be carried out and preoperative screening tests considering the possibility of urinary tuberculosis are required. Finally, if urinary tuberculosis is detected, ESWL must be postponed until after appropriate treatment of tuberculosis.