Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. Selection of patients and long-term complications

The treatment of urolithiasis continues to evolve. This article has attempted to define for the radiologist those patients with upper urinary tract calculi best managed by ESWL monotherapy, by percutaneous methods, and by a combination of the two. In addition, many of the complications that accompany ESWL are made evident by radiologic and isotopic evaluation of patients after lithotripsy, which is yet another important role for the radiologist in the care of the patient with urinary calculi.