Large staghorn calculus presenting as a loin abscess and complicated by an abdominal aortic aneurysm

We present the case and radiologic images of an 85-year-old woman who presented with a left loin abscess secondary to a left staghorn calculus and a nonfunctioning left kidney. We examined the rationale behind the eventual decision to pursue conservative treatment in the form of incision and drainage rather than nephrectomy. This was because of the patient's frailty and the presence of an abdominal aortic aneurysm in close proximity to the left kidney. The radiologic images are of great quality and interest because they display the pathologic findings very clearly. Our brief case report outlines the decision-making process.