Published in:
01-08-2012 | Computed Tomography
Abdominal fat distribution on computed tomography predicts ureteric calculus fragmentation by shock wave lithotripsy
Published in: European Radiology | Issue 8/2012
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Objectives
To assess the effects of abdominal fat on shock wave lithotripsy (SWL). We used pre-SWL unenhanced computed tomography (CT) to evaluate the impact of abdominal fat distribution and calculus characteristics on the outcome of SWL.
Methods
One hundred and eighty-five patients with a solitary ureteric calculus treated with SWL were retrospectively reviewed. Each patient underwent unenhanced CT within 1 month before SWL treatment. Treatment outcomes were evaluated 1 month later. Unenhanced CT parameters, including calculus surface area, Hounsfield unit (HU) density, abdominal fat area and skin to calculus distance (SSD) were analysed.
Results
One hundred and twenty-eight of the 185 patients were found to be calculus-free following treatment. HU density, total fat area, visceral fat area and SSD were identified as significant variables on multivariate logistic regression analysis. The receiver-operating characteristic analyses showed that total fat area, para/perirenal fat area and visceral fat area were sensitive predictors of SWL outcomes.
Conclusion
This study revealed that higher quantities of abdominal fat, especially visceral fat, are associated with a lower calculus-free rate following SWL treatment. Unenhanced CT is a convenient technique for diagnosing the presence of a calculus, assessing the intra-abdominal fat distribution and thereby helping to predict the outcome of SWL.
Key Points
• Unenhanced CT is now widely used to assess ureteric calculi.
• The same CT protocol can provide measurements of abdominal fat distribution.
• Ureteric calculi are usually treated by shock wave lithotripsy (SWL).
• Greater intra-abdominal fat stores are generally associated with poorer SWL results.