The effect of stone and patient characteristics in predicting extra-corporal shock wave lithotripsy success rate: A cross sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: We determine the effect of patient characteristics (age, sex, and body mass index BMI) and stone characteristics (density, location, and size) by non-contrast computed tomography of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder (CT-KUB) in predicting the success of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in the treatment of kidney and ureteric stones. We present this study to further enrich the knowledge of physicians towards the effect of different patient characteristics upon predicting extra-corporal shock wave lithotripsy success rates. METHODS: We evaluated 155 patients who received ESWL for renal and ureteric stone measuring 3-20 mm (mm), over a 3-month period. The stone size in millimeters, density in Hounsfield units (HU) and its location was determined on pre-treatment CT-KUB. ESWL was successful if post-treatment residual renal stone fragments were ≤3 mm and for ureteric stones should be totally cleared. RESULTS: The overall success of ESWL treatment was observed in 65.8% of the 155 patients. There was no significant difference seen when the effect of patients age, sex and BMI were studied with ESWL outcome with P values were 0.155, 0.101 and 0.415 respectively. Also, stone location either in the kidney or ureter has no statistically significant effect on ESWL response rate. while stone density and size determined on CT KUB have statistically significant effect on the success rate of ESWL with a P-value of 0.002 and 0.000 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that determination of stone density and stone size on CT KUB pre ESWL can help to predict the outcome of ESWL. We propose that stone density <500 HU and stone size < 5 mm are highly likely to result in successful ESWL.

Central pancreatectomy for solid pseudopapillary neoplasm: A pancreatic-preserving procedure.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) is a rare pancreatic disorder that usually affects young women with no or nonspecific clinical manifestation. It accounts for approximately 1% of pancreatic neoplasms. The incidence of SPN is increasing, owing to improved imaging techniques and better recognition of this entity. Although most patients with SPNs have a favorable prognosis after radical resection, local recurrence or metastasis still occurs after surgery. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a 15-year-old female with a small solid pseudopapillary neoplasm in the Pancreas' proximal body. The patient presented with nonspecific symptoms and was diagnosed incidentally. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: The patient underwent a central pancreatectomy and was discharged on the fifth postoperative day without complications. Central pancreatectomy may prevent devastating complications of pancreaticoduodenectomy surgery. CONCLUSION: As SPN is a rare entity of pancreatic tumors, the surgical options for management are still debated. The respect for surgery should account for the tumor site and size. Also, life expectancy and surgical complications for each choice should be considered. In localized disease, segmental resection may prevent devastating complications of radical resection.