PNL Superior for Lower Pole Calyceal Stones

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) is superior to shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) and observation for treating asymptomatic lower pole calyceal stones, according to Turkish researchers.

Investigators at Haseki Teaching and Research Hospital and Taksim Teaching and Research Hospital, both in Istanbul, compared the treatments in 52 patients with asymptomatic isolated lower calyceal stones.

The researchers randomly assigned 15 patients to undergo PNL, 19 to undergo SWL, and 18 to observation. The follow-up period was about 13 months for all groups. The stone-free rates were 100%, 60.2%, and 0%, respectively. Three patients in the observation group required intervention during the follow-up period.

The researchers reported findings at the 24^th Annual European Association of Urology Congress in Stockholm