Ultrastructural Analysis of Urinary Stones by Microfocus Computed Tomography and Comparison with Chemical Analysis

• Main Authors: Tolga Karakan, Emre Huri, İlkan Tatar, Hakan Hamdi Çelik, Akif Diri, Murat Bağcıoğlu, Cankon Germiyanoğlu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dicle University Medical School 2016-06-01
• Series: Dicle Medical Journal
• Subjects: Computed tomography; micro; urinary stone analysis
• Online Access: http://www.diclemedj.org/upload/sayi/60/Dicle%20Med%20J-02974.pdf

Objective: To investigate the ultra-structure of urinary system stones using micro-focus computed tomography (MCT), which makes non-destructive analysis and to compare with wet chemical analysis. Methods: This study was carried out at the Ankara Train­ing and Research hospital. Renal stones, removed from 30 patients during percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) surgery, were included in the study. The stones were blindly evaluated by the specialists with MCT and chemi­cal analysis. Results: The comparison of the stone components be­tween chemical analysis and MCT, showed that the rate of consistence was very low (p<0.001). There was no significant relationship between the components of stone and its heterogeneity or homogeneity. No significant dif­ference was found between the stones with single com­ponent and those with multiple components in terms of its 3D structure being homogenous or heterogeneous and the presence of voids (p>0.05). It was also seen that there was no significant relation between its 3D structure being heterogeneous or homogenous. Conclusion: The stone analysis with MCT is a time con­suming and costly method. This method is useful to un­derstand the mechanisms of stone formation and an im­portant guide to develop the future treatment modalities.