Pediatric stone disease: an evolving experience

Abstract

Purpose: The presentation and management of pediatric stone disease have changed due to early identification and treatment of congenital urological conditions, as well as technological advances. Therefore, we reviewed our 12-year experience.

Materials and methods: A total of 123 patients with 158 stones presented from 1991 to 2003. The 46 boys and 77 girls were 8 months to 25 years old, including 5 boys (4%) younger than 3 years, 46 (37%) 4 to 12 years old and 72 (59%) older than 13 years. A 24-hour urine collection was done in 50 patients (41%) and serum chemistry studies were performed in 66 (54%).

Results: The seasons of presentation were fall in 41% of cases, summer in 24%, spring in 22% and winter in 13%. Of the patients 94 (76%) had loin pain, 10 (8%) had urinary tract infections, 13 (11%) had a history urinary tract infection, 18 (15%) had gross hematuria, 14 (11%) had structural urological abnormalities and 7 (6%) had neurogenic bladder. Metabolic abnormalities were uncommon and included hypercalciuria in 12%, hyperoxaluria in 2% and cystinuria in 2%. A total of 57 patients (46%) passed the stones and 34 (28%) underwent extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, of whom 24 (71%) became stone-free. Ureteroscopy was performed in 10 patients (8%) 6 to 19 years old, percutaneous nephrostolithotomy was done in 4 (3%) and 4 (3%) underwent open surgery. Stone analysis showed calcium based in 88% of the cases, struvite in 7% and cystine in 5%.

Conclusions: The majority of patients had no congenital abnormalities. Early diagnosis of urological abnormalities and urinary infection, and appropriate management of neurogenic bladder may have reduced the incidence in those groups. Most stones are calcium based but occur in the absence of metabolic disturbances. More patients presented in the fall, perhaps reflecting the increased concentration of urine in the summer. Half of the patients passed the stones and shock wave lithotripsy was curative in most others. Ureteroscopy, percutaneous nephrostolithotomy and open surgery were rarely required.