The need for better decision tools in managing stone disease

摘要

Kidney stones are a common condition with recent epidemiological reports describing a prevalence of almost 1 of 11 persons. The prevalence of this disease has been increasing at a great rate during recent decades, confirming that kidney stones will continue to be a public health concern for the foreseeable future. Although many patients suffering from a symptomatic kidney stone will ultimately pass the stone spontaneously and not require intervention, a large proportion will nonetheless require some form of treatment to effect stone clearance. In most cases information obtained from diagnostic imaging studies is integral in selecting the optimal treatment approach