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Kidney changes after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy: appearance on MR imaging
Radiology
|May 1, 1987
Summary
Magnetic resonance imaging revealed kidney changes in 74% of patients after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). These subtle findings, including fluid and corticomedullary junction alterations, warrant further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a common procedure for kidney stone treatment.
- Potential renal changes post-ESWL require sensitive detection methods.
- Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging offers high soft-tissue contrast for evaluating renal parenchyma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the occurrence and characteristics of kidney changes following ESWL using MR imaging.
- To assess the sensitivity of MR imaging in detecting subtle renal alterations post-ESWL.
Main Methods:
- MR imaging with T1-weighted spin-echo sequences was performed on 34 patients (39 kidneys) after ESWL.
- Analysis focused on identifying fluid collections and alterations in the corticomedullary junction (CMJ) and signal intensity.
Main Results:
- Seventy-four percent (29/39) of kidneys showed MR imaging changes.
- Observed changes included subcapsular/perinephric fluid (n=10), focal/diffuse CMJ loss (n=24), and altered signal intensity areas (n=10).
- CMJ changes correlated with the number of shock waves administered.
Conclusions:
- MR imaging detects subtle renal changes after ESWL that may be missed by other modalities.
- The long-term clinical significance of these MR-detected changes remains undetermined.
- No serious renal pathology was evident in the studied cohort.