Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Urology 2022 03 27;161:25-30. Epub 2021 Nov 27.

Department of Urology, From the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.

Objective: To define risk factors and perioperative outcomes for matrix stones and compare these outcomes with struvite and calcium stone cohorts.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study comparing matrix stones (n=32), struvite stones (n=23) and a matched, calcium stone control group (n=32) was performed. Two-way ANOVA was used to compare the groups for continuous variables. Read More

J Endourol Case Rep 2020 11;6(1):45-48. Epub 2020 Mar 11.

Department of Urology, AZ Sint-Blasius, Dendermonde, Belgium.

Phosphate stones can be divided into struvite (7%), apatite (20%), and brushite stones (2%). They often present as large staghorn calculi and, therefore, can be challenging to treat. Moreover, it is crucial to obtain a stone-free patient to prevent recurrence. Read More

Am J Med Sci 2020 06 17;359(6):389. Epub 2020 Feb 17.

Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Asian J Urol 2020 Apr 17;7(2):122-129. Epub 2019 Dec 17.

Duke Comprehensive Kidney Stone Center, Division of Urologic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.

Staghorn renal calculi are large renal calculi that occupy nearly the entirety of the renal collecting system. They may be composed of metabolic or infection stone types. They are often associated with specific metabolic defects. Read More

Int Braz J Urol 2020 Nov-Dec;46(6):927-933

Stevan B, Streem Center for Endourology & Stone Disease, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Patients with staghorn renal stones are challenging cases, requiring careful preoperative evaluation and close follow-up to avoid stone recurrence. In this article we aim to discuss the main topics related to staghorn renal stones with focus on surgical approach. Most of staghorn renal stones are composed of struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate) and are linked to urinary tract infection by urease-producing pathogens. Read More

Urologiia 2019 Dec(5):31-36

Institute for Urology and Human Reproductive Health of FGAOU VO I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.

The Aim: To assess the diagnostic performance of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) in the evaluation of the composition of urinary stones "in vivo".

Materials And Methods: A total of 91 patients aged from 20 to 70 years old (mean 42.7) with urinary stone disease were examined at Sechenov University, including 68 men (75%) and 23 women (25%). Read More

J Endourol 2019 11 26;33(11):954-959. Epub 2019 Sep 26.

Department of Urology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.

There has been an increase in the number of staghorn calculi that form in the absence of infection (metabolic staghorns). It is unknown why some large metabolic calculi form as solitary or multiple separate, nonbranching caliceal stones, whereas others develop as staghorn stones forming a cast of the collecting system. We sought to compare these two groups of metabolic stone formers (SFs) in an attempt to shed light on these disparate stone-forming phenomena. Read More

AME Case Rep 2019 11;3:19. Epub 2019 Jun 11.

Urology Department, Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.

Staghorn, struvite or coral calculus are the ones that completely or partially occupies the renal pelvis and branches to the renal calices. The presence of renal calculi of any kind in the urinary tracts is related to the appearing of malign tumor in the kidneys, especially in the absence or failed treatment. A male patient, 51 years old, native of Manaus, reports about dysuria and polyuria associated with constant fever episodes and urinary tract infections with improvement by using several antibiotics but returning the symptoms after suspending it. Read More

World J Urol 2020 Jan 9;38(1):219-229. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Department of Urology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, No.168, Changhai Rd, Shanghai, 200433, China.

Purpose: To describe the clinical characteristics of struvite stones and determine the preoperative predictors of sepsis in struvite patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).

Methods: A retrospective study of patients who underwent PCNL between April 2011 and March 2018 was performed. The data of the struvite stones and non-struvite stones groups were compared following propensity score matching. Read More

J Tradit Complement Med 2019 Jan 2;9(1):24-37. Epub 2018 Mar 2.

Department of Pharmacology, Al Shifa College of Pharmacy, Poonthavanam Post, Kizhattur Village, Perinthalmanna, Malappuram Dist, Kerala, India.

(L.) is a traditional herb, commonly used for the treatment of kidney stone related problems. Struvite stone can swiftly grow and become 'staghorn calculi' in kidney and its associated areas, which is the most aching urological disorder. Read More

J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol 2018 Oct;62 Suppl 1:111

Department of Radiology, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Concord, New South Wales, Australia.

World J Urol 2019 May 25;37(5):951-956. Epub 2018 Sep 25.

Department of Urology, School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, No. 168 Litang Road, Changping District, Beijing, 102218, China.

Purpose: To report our experience with total ultrasound-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in the management of patients with solitary kidney, and evaluate the safety and feasibility of this technique.

Materials And Methods: Between October 2014 and December 2016, 48 patients with solitary kidneys underwent total ultrasound-guided PCNL at our institution. Stone-free rate (SFR), auxiliary procedures, and complications were recorded. Read More

Recent Pat Drug Deliv Formul 2018 ;12(3):170-178

Department of Chemistry, School of Advanced Sciences, VIT University, Vellore-632014, India.

Background: Herbal drugs are gaining exponential scientific recognition due to their distinct advantages. In the last 2-3 decades, a gradual increase in worldwide patents on herbal nanoformulations has been noted to address the solubility and bioavailability issues of phytoceuticals. Struvite or ammonium magnesium phosphate hexahydrate (NH4MgPO4. Read More

World J Urol 2018 Nov 14;36(11):1863-1869. Epub 2018 May 14.

Department of Urology, Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.

Purpose: We sought to investigate the association between renal stone composition and percutaneous nephrolithotomy outcomes in pediatric patients and define the characterization of the stone composition.

Methods: The data of 1157 children who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy between 1991 and 2012 were retrieved from the multicenter database of the Turkish Pediatric Urology Society. The study population comprised 359 children (160 girls, 199 boys) with stone analyses. Read More

Indian J Urol 2018 Apr-Jun;34(2):144-148

Department of Sugery, S.P. Medical College, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition of urinary stones and pattern of changes according to the patient's age in Northwestern Rajasthan using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.

Materials And Methods: A prospective study of 1005 urolithiasis patients was carried out in two tertiary care centers from September 2012 to September 2016. Chemical composition of urinary stones was analyzed using FTIR spectroscopy, and a subgroup study based on the patient's age was done (8-12 years - Group A, 13-18 years - Group B, and >18 years - Group C). Read More

Ren Fail 2018 Nov;40(1):357-362

b Department of Urology and Nephrology , Aksaray University , Aksaray , Turkey.

Staghorn stones are large branching stones that fill part of all of the renal pelvis and renal calyces and they can be complete or partial depending on the level of occupancy of the collecting system. Although kidney stones are commoner in men, staghorn stones are less often reported in men compared to women and they are usually unilateral. Due to the significant morbidity and potential mortality attributed to staghorn stones, prompt assessment and treatment is mandatory. Read More

Can Urol Assoc J 2018 Apr 22;12(4):131-136. Epub 2017 Dec 22.

The Stone Centre at Vancouver General Hospital, Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada.

Introduction: Struvite stones account for 15% of urinary calculi and are typically associated with urease-producing urinary tract infections and carry significant morbidity. This study aims to characterize struvite stones based on purity of stone composition, bacterial speciation, risk factors, and clinical features.

Methods: Retrospective data was collected from patients diagnosed with infection stones between 2008 and 2012. Read More

Int J Paleopathol 2017 12 1;19:18-23. Epub 2017 Sep 1.

University of Illinois Medical School, 1601 Parkview Avenue, Rockford, IL 61107, United States.

During the excavation of the 19th century Peoria City Cemetery (Peoria, Illinois), a skeleton of a female, aged 20-30 years old, was found with large, bilateral calcified masses in the abdominal region. The masses were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and the results compared to published clinical data in an effort to determine the etiology of the stones. The calcified masses were determined to be staghorn struvite uroliths, which commonly result from chronic urinary tract infection and likely impacted the overall health of this individual. Read More

J Endourol 2017 05 29;31(5):533-537. Epub 2017 Mar 29.

1 Department of Urology, Mount Sinai West, New York, New York.

Objective: To examine urine and stone bacteriology of struvite stone formers in a large cohort of patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).

Materials And Methods: A total of 1191 patients, with stone and urine cultures, treated with PCNL for renal calculi were included in the study. Statistical differences were assessed using Mann-Whitney U and T-tests. Read More

Rheumatology (Oxford) 2017 Mar;56(3):498-500

Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.

Cir Pediatr 2015 Apr 15;28(2):59-66. Epub 2015 Apr 15.

Servicio de Urología. Fundación Puigvert. Barcelona.

Introduction: Extracorporeal Shock Wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is the cornerstone of pediatric urolitiasis management. We evaluated its efficacy and complications in a series of children.

Material And Methods: Children who were managed with ESWL between 2003 and 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Read More

Ceylon Med J 2016 Jun;61(2):74-6

Urology Unit, Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Sri Lanka.

The composition of renal stones varies widely among populations. The aim of our study was to determine the composition of staghorn renal stones using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in a cohort of Sri Lankan patients. Forty two staghorn calculi removed from kidneys of adult patients during open surgery were analysed. Read More

Dev Period Med 2016 Jan-Mar;20(1):23-6

Katedra i Klinika Pediatrii i Nefrologii, Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Polska.

Urolithiasis in children occurs with the incidence of 0.1-5%. Risk factors such as metabolic disorders, recurrent urinary tract infections and/or congenital abnormalities of urinary tract are detected in 75-85% of children with urolithiasis. Read More

J Endourol 2016 09 3;30(9):982-6. Epub 2016 Aug 3.

1 Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic , Rochester, Minnesota.

Introduction: We aim to describe pre- and postoperative predictors of infection-related complications in individuals undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).

Patients And Methods: Patients treated with PCNL from 2009 to 2013 were reviewed. Patients with positive urine or stone cultures received extended antimicrobial treatment. Read More

Urol Clin North Am 2015 Nov 26;42(4):459-72. Epub 2015 Jul 26.

Department of Urologic Surgery, Administrative Office, A-1302 Medical Center North, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232-2765, USA. Electronic address:

Infected kidney stones refer to stones that form because of urinary tract infections with urease-producing bacteria, secondarily infected stones of any composition, or stones obstructing the urinary tract leading to pyelonephritis. The mainstay of treatment of infection stones is complete stone removal. Kidney stones that obstruct the urinary tract and cause obstructive pyelonephritis are also frequently referred to as infected stones. Read More

J Endourol Case Rep 2015 1;1(1):21-3. Epub 2015 Oct 1.

Department of Urology, University of California , Irvine, Orange, California.

A 77-year-old female presented with bilateral staghorn calculi. She underwent an uneventful left percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL); the stone analysis revealed a 90% struvite and 10% calcium phosphate stone. Treatment of the right stone was postponed by the patient. Read More

Arch Esp Urol 2014 Sep;67(7):650-3

Department of Urology. Clínica Universitaria de Navarra. Pamplona.Spain.

Objective: To describe two clinical cases of staghorn stones in renal allografts and to perform a review of this condition.

Methods/results: Case 1. 71-year-old woman with a renal transplant and recurrent UTI presented lithiasis in the graft on renal ultrasound. Read More

Urolithiasis 2014 Jun 19;42(3):283-4. Epub 2014 Mar 19.

Department of Urology, Korea University Guro Hospital, #148 Gurodong-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul, 152-703, Korea.

Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl 2013 Mar;24(2):418-23

Department of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.

This study was conducted to determine the composition of staghorn stones and to assess the proportion of infected stones as well as the correlation between infection in the stones and bacteria grown in urine. Samples of 45 consecutive stones removed through anatrophic nephrolithotomic procedures were taken from the operation site and samples of urine were obtained by simultaneous bladder catheterization. The frequency of infection in the stones and correlation between infection of stone and urine samples were determined with respect to the composition of the stones. Read More