Pathologic-Anatomic Alterations in Human Kidneys after Extracorporeal Piezoelectric Shock Wave Lithotripsy

Pathologic-anatomic examinations of the kidneys from four patients—three adults and one child—were done after treatment with extracorporeal piezoelectric lithotripsy (EPL). Examination revealed alterations dependent on the number of shock waves administered. The pattern of renal lesions corresponded to the results known from animal studies. The renal alterations; i.e., hemorrhages and hematomas, were preferentially located at the corticomedullary junction. In comparison with the findings in laboratory animal studies, the lesions in human kidneys were decidedly minor after administration of the same number of shock waves.