Utility of stone volume estimated by software algorithm in predicting success of medical expulsive therapy

Authors

  • Rajat Jain
  • Sara Maskal
  • Jason Milk
  • Leonard Kahn
  • Donald Fedrigon III
  • Sri Sivalingam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.6491

Keywords:

Nephrolithiasis; Nephrolithotomy, Percutaneous; Ureteroscopy; Health Care Costs; Health Resources

Abstract

Introduction: We sought to assess the accuracy of using stone volume (SV) estimated with a software algorithm as a predictor for stone passage in a trial of medical expulsive therapy (MET).

Methods: We identified patients with ureteral stones discharged from the emergency department on MET. Patients with infection, non-ureteral stones, or needing immediate surgical intervention were excluded. For each stone, longest dimension (LD) was recorded, and SV was estimated by a computed tomography (CT)-based region-growing (RG) algorithm and standard ellipsoid formula (EF). Stone passage within 30 days was assessed via electronic chart and followup phone call.

Results: Fifty-one patients were included for analysis (53±16.7 years, 24% female). The mean LD was 4.85±2.02 mm. The mean SV was similar by EF and RG (0.051±0.057cm3 vs. 0.049±0.052 cm3, p=0.28). Thirty-three (65%) patients passed their stone, while 18 (35%) did not. The mean LD for passed stones vs. failed passage was 4.1±1.7 mm vs. 6.2±1.8 mm (p=0.0002); the mean EF volume was 0.028±0.035 cm3 vs. 0.093±0.066 cm3 (p=0.00007); and the mean volume by RG was 0.028±0.027 cm3 vs. 0.088±0.063 cm3 (p=0.00005).

Conclusions: The clinical utility of SV estimated by software algorithm as a predictor for success of MET has not previously been examined. We demonstrated that spontaneously passed stones had a significantly smaller volume than those requiring intervention. Further prospective studies are needed to validate these findings and establish volume thresholds for probability of stone passage.

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Published

2020-08-07

How to Cite

Jain, R. ., Maskal, S., Milk, J. ., Kahn, L. ., Fedrigon III, D. ., & Sivalingam, S. . (2020). Utility of stone volume estimated by software algorithm in predicting success of medical expulsive therapy. Canadian Urological Association Journal, 15(3), E144–7. https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.6491

Issue

Section

Original Research