• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.287-291
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• 2005

To determine the appropriate session for changing treatment modality according to the size of proximal ureter stone with complete obstruction, We analyzed 201 patients with proximal ureter stone primarily treated by Dornier MPL 9000 lithotripter from January, 2002 to August, 2004. Of total 201 patients, the patients without complete obstruction were 142, and with complete obstruction were 59. In the patients without complete obstruction, the accumulative stone free rate of the first, second, and third session were 68.3%, 86.6%, and 94.4%, respectively. The accumulative stone free rate according to the stone size at third session were 100%, 90.5%, 00.0% in stones less than 10 mm, 10 to less than 20 mm, and larger than or 20 mm, respectively. In the patients with complete obstruction, the accumulative stone free rate of the first, second, and third session were 44.1%, 66.1%, and 76.3%, respectively. The accumulative stone free rate according to the stone size at third session were 100%, 65.5%, 33.3% in stones less than 10 mm, 10 to less than 20 mm, and larger than or 20 mm, respectively. In our study, the size of proximal ureter stone with complete obstruction influenced noticeably on the success rate of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). We propose that the proximal ureter stones larger than or 10 mm with complete obstruction are treated by ureteroscopic manipulation than ESWL as the first line treatment modality.