What is the shape of a staghorn calculus?
Type of kidney stone: Staghorn calculi (that fill the shape of the renal calyces) are usually struvite and opaque. Staghorn shape: A staghorn calculus is a large kidney stone shaped like a stag's horn and fills the inside of the kidney.
What is staghorn renal calculi?
Staghorn renal calculi occur when calcium or uric acid forms into a stone, which becomes lodged in the renal pelvis, or the funnel-shaped part of the urinary tract. Most people who have staghorn renal calculi also have other types of stones present in their urinary systems. The kidneys filter waste and excess fluid from the blood.
What are infection stones and staghorn calculi?
These stones are often referred to as ‘infection stones’ since they are strongly associated with urinary tract infections with urea splitting organisms. Cystine stones, although much less common, may also develop into staghorn calculi.
What is the difference between cystine and staghorn calculi?
Cystine stones, although much less common, may also develop into staghorn calculi. Staghorn calculi, also sometimes called coral calculi, are renal calculi that obtain their characteristic shape by forming a cast of the renal pelvis and calyces, thus resembling the horns of a stag.
What is staghorn calculus?
Staghorn calculi represent a less-common nephrolithiasis subgroup so named because the significant stone burden that fills the renal pelvis and calyces forms a shape on radiographs that resembles a deer’s horns.
What is a staghorn?
Staghorn calculi, also sometimes called coral calculi, are renal calculi that obtain their characteristic shape by forming a cast of the renal pelvis and calyces, thus resembling the horns of a stag.
How to treat staghorn stones?
The most effective treatment option is percutaneous nephrolithotomy, where the urologist inserts a scope directly into the kidney via a 1/2 inch tract made in your flank. Open surgery for kidney stones is strongly discouraged and reserved for only very rare cases with a very large stone burden or very unusual anatomy.
Can staghorn calculus be treated?
Staghorn calculus treatment can be done both medically and surgically. A guideline from the American Urological Association recommends that patients with residual or recurrent struvite stones may be offered treatment with acetohydroxamic acid (AHA), but only after surgical options have been exhausted. Suppressive antibiotic therapy may prevent pyelonephritis and associated systemic infection and may help inhibit stone growth.
What is a staghorn calculus?
Staghorn calculus (kidney) Staghorn calculi , also sometimes called coral calculi, are renal calculi that obtain their characteristic shape by forming a cast of the renal pelvis and calyces, thus resembling the horns of a stag. They refer to struvite calculi involving the renal pelvis and extending into at least two calyces 7.
Is a staghorn calcific or radiopaque?
Plain radiograph. The vast majority of staghorn calculi are radiopaque and appear as branching calcific densities overlying the renal outline and may mimic an excretory phase intravenous pyelogram. Lamination within the stone is common.
What is a staghorn calculus?
Staghorn shape: A staghorn calculus is a large kidney stone shaped like a stag's horn and fills the inside of the kidney. This needs to be managed by a urologist. Willt respond to sound wave treatment (eswl) and requires aggressive management, ideally by percutaneous lithotripsy. Tube is placed in your kidney followed by a scope and then broken up by laser. Are caused by metabolic problems or urine infection.
What type of stone is a staghorn?
Type of kidney stone: Staghorn calculi (that fill the shape of the renal calyces) are usually struvite and opaque.
What is the treatment for staghorn renal calculi?
Infection stone: Staghorn renal calculi usually form in patients with repeated urinary tract infections. Treatment usually requires invasive surgery, and requires removal of the entire stone in order to avoid regrowth of the stone and repeated infections. Speak to a urologist who specializes in percutaneous stone surgery for details.
Epidemiology
Clinical Presentation
- The majority of staghorn calculi are symptomatic, presenting with fever, hematuria, flank pain and potentially septicemia and abscess formation.
Pathology
- Staghorn calculi are composed of struvite (chemically this is magnesium ammonium phosphate or MAP) and are usually seen in the setting of recurrent urinary tract infection with urease-producing bacteria (e.g. Proteus, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas andEnterobacter). Urease hydrolyzes urea to ammonium with an increase in the urinary pH 3-5. Struvite accoun...
Radiographic Features
- The vast majority of staghorn calculi are radiopaque and appear as branching calcific densities overlying the renal outline and may mimic an excretory phase intravenous pyelogram. Lamination within the stone is common. The collecting system is filled with a densely calcified mass, producing marked posterior acoustic shadowing. Staghorn calculi are radiopaque and conform t…
Treatment and Prognosis
- Staghorn calculi need to be treated surgically, usually PCNL (percutaneous nephrolithotomy) +/- ESWL (extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy)and the entire stone removed, including small fragments, as otherwise, these residual fragments act as a reservoir for infection and recurrent stone formation. If left untreated, staghorn calculi result in chronic infection and eventually may …
Differential Diagnosis
- There is usually little differential, provided intravenous contrast has not been administered. In the latter situation, the opaque collecting system may be attributed to contrast rather than the calculus, especially when staghorn calculi are bilateral.