[Giant ureteric stones: report of two cases]

Ureteric stones are generally solitary and less than 2 cm long. Exceptionally, ureteric stones can be longer than 5 cm and/or weigh more than 50 grams, and are referred to as giant ureteric stones. In the light of two personal cases and a review of the literature, the authors review the epidemiological, aetiopathogenic, clinical and therapeutic aspects of this disease with particular emphasis on the importance of the aetiological work-up. These two cases concerned two boys, aged 10 years and 4 and a half years, respectively, with no particular medical history, who presented an acute episode of pyelonephritis. The KUB plain film, renal ultrasound and IVU demonstrated a huge stone filling the right ureter in one case and the left ureter in the other case. The stones were treated surgically in both cases. The aetiopathogenesis of these large ureteric stones remains unclear. A urinary tract malformation (megaureter, ureterocele, stricture, etc.), either alone or associated with a metabolic predisposition plays an important role in the pathogenesis of these large stones. The aetiological work-up of these large stones is essential. Morpho-constitutional stone analysis provides extremely useful and even decisive information in some cases for the aetiological diagnosis. Despite the development of extracorporeal lithotripsy and endourological techniques, the treatment of giant ureteric stones often remains surgical.