Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Urolithiasis 5/2014

01-10-2014 | Letter to the Editor

Renal bone metaplasia: an incidental negligible finding or a disease to treat?

Authors: Davide Campobasso, Francesco Paolo Pilato, Letizia Gnetti, Elena Thai, Paolo Erminio Salsi, Antonio Frattini, Stefania Ferretti

Published in: Urolithiasis | Issue 5/2014

Login to get access

Abstract

Renal bone metaplasia (RBM) is a uncommon condition and is often an incidental finding. The pathogenesis of this phenomenon is not clearly understood. The radiological signs described are not always present and the diagnosis is challenging. In the literature, there is no any conclusion about the optimal management of this condition due to the absence of some conclusions regarding its etiology. In our opinion, no treatment should be applied to prevent its possible evolution into urolithiasis. Surgical removal of the RBM is an overtreatment for a phenomenon not understood and potentially insignificant. We report our experience with a watchful waiting approach in a case of incidental diagnosis of RBM. After 3 years, the patient is asymptomatic, with no evidence of malignancies evolution, new renal stones or growth of the residual RBM.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Garcia-Cuerpo E, Lovaco F, Berenguer A, Garcia-Gonzales R (1988) Bone metaplasia in the urinary tract: a new radiological sign. J Urol 139:104–108PubMed Garcia-Cuerpo E, Lovaco F, Berenguer A, Garcia-Gonzales R (1988) Bone metaplasia in the urinary tract: a new radiological sign. J Urol 139:104–108PubMed
2.
go back to reference Sacredotti C, Frattin G (1902) Ueber die heteroplastische Knochenbildung: experimentelle Untersuchungen. Virchows Arch 168:431CrossRef Sacredotti C, Frattin G (1902) Ueber die heteroplastische Knochenbildung: experimentelle Untersuchungen. Virchows Arch 168:431CrossRef
3.
go back to reference Cifuentes Delatte L, Minon JL, Santos M, Traba ML (1976) Ectopic renal ossification as nucleus of urinary stones. J Urol 116:398–401PubMed Cifuentes Delatte L, Minon JL, Santos M, Traba ML (1976) Ectopic renal ossification as nucleus of urinary stones. J Urol 116:398–401PubMed
4.
go back to reference Samad L, Arif M, Zaidi Z (2007) Extraosseous bone formation in the renal pelvis. J Urol 178:2124–2127PubMedCrossRef Samad L, Arif M, Zaidi Z (2007) Extraosseous bone formation in the renal pelvis. J Urol 178:2124–2127PubMedCrossRef
5.
go back to reference Tiselius H (2013) The role of calcium phosphate in the development of Randall’s plaques. Urolithiasis 41:369–377PubMedCrossRef Tiselius H (2013) The role of calcium phosphate in the development of Randall’s plaques. Urolithiasis 41:369–377PubMedCrossRef
Metadata
Title
Renal bone metaplasia: an incidental negligible finding or a disease to treat?
Authors
Davide Campobasso
Francesco Paolo Pilato
Letizia Gnetti
Elena Thai
Paolo Erminio Salsi
Antonio Frattini
Stefania Ferretti
Publication date
01-10-2014
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Urolithiasis / Issue 5/2014
Print ISSN: 2194-7228
Electronic ISSN: 2194-7236
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00240-014-0684-x

Other articles of this Issue 5/2014

Urolithiasis 5/2014 Go to the issue