Volume 16, Number 1Review ArticlesCalyceal Diverticula: A Comprehensive ReviewDisease State ReviewZeph OkekeNikhil WaingankarSamih HayekArthur D SmithCalyceal diverticula are rare outpouchings of the upper collecting system that likely have a congenital origin. Stones can be found in up to 50% of calyceal diverticula, although, over the combined reported series, 96% of patients presented with stones. Diagnosis is best made by intravenous urography or computed tomography urogram. Shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) is an option for first-line therapy in patients with stone-bearing diverticula that have radiologically patent necks in mid- to upper-pole diverticula and small stone burdens. Stone-free rates are the lowest with SWL, although patients report being asymptomatic following therapy in up to 75% of cases with extended follow-up. Ureteroscopy (URS) is best suited for management of anteriorly located mid- to upper-pole diverticular stones. Drawbacks to URS include difficulty in identifying the ostium and low rate of obliteration. Percutaneous management is best used in posteriorly located mid- to lower-pole stones, and offers the ability to directly ablate the diverticulum. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy remains effective in the management of upper-pole diverticula, but carries the risk of pulmonary complications unless subcostal access strategies such as triangulation or renal displacement are used. Laparoscopic surgery provides definitive management, but should be reserved for cases with large stones in anteriorly located diverticula with thin overlying parenchyma, and cases that are refractory to other treatment. This article reviews the current theories on the pathogenesis of calyceal diverticula. The current classification is examined in addition to the current diagnostic methods. Here we summarize an extensive review of the literature on the outcomes of the different treatment approaches. [ Rev Urol. 2014;16(1):29-43 doi: 10.3909/riu0581] © 2014 MedReviews®, LLCUreterorenoscopyCalyceal diverticulaPercutaneous nephrostolithotomyLaparoscopic surgeryShock wave lithotripsy
Volume 18, Number 1Review ArticlesNephrolithometric Scoring Systems to Predict Outcomes of Percutaneous NephrolithotomyManagement UpdateSimone L VernezZhamshid OkhunovPiruz MotamediniaVincent BirdZeph OkekeArthur SmithCurrently, there is no single agreement upon an ideal predictive model that characterizes the complexity of renal stones and predicts surgical outcomes following percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). New predictive tools have recently emerged to systematically and quantitatively assess kidney stone complexity to predict outcomes following PCNL: the Guy’s Stone Score, the CROES nomogram, S.T.O.N.E. nephrolithometry, and S-ReSC score. An ideal scoring system should include variables that both influence surgical planning and are predictive of postoperative outcomes. This review discusses the strengths, weaknesses, and commonalities of each of the above scoring systems. Additionally, we propose future directions for the development and analysis of surgical treatment for stone disease, namely, the importance of assessing radiation exposure and patient quality of life when counseling patients on treatment options. [Rev Urol. 2016;18(1):15-27 doi: 10.3909/riu0693] © 2016 MedReviews®, LLCPercutaneous nephrolithotomyUrolithiasisScoring systemNomograms