Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy of Caliceal Diverticula Calculi

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Abstract
We reviewed 10 patients with calculi in caliceal diverticula to determine whether they could be treated successfully by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. Of the patients 7 required 1 and 3 required 2 treatment attempts to fragment the calculi completely. After a minimum followup of 3 months (mean 5.9 months) 2 patients (20 per cent) had passed successfully all of the stone fragments, while 3 (30 per cent) had passed more than half and 5 (50 per cent) had passed less than half of the fragments. Of the 8 patients with residual fragments only 3 had persistent symptoms indicating that symptoms relief is not dependent on complete stone removal. The possibility of producing a satisfactory result (70 per cent free of symptoms) and the low morbidity of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy suggest that this treatment may be appropriate for calculi in caliceal diverticula.