Shock Wave Lithotripsy Correlates With Stone Density on Preoperative Computerized Tomography

The combined stone-free and fragmentation rate was 51%, lower than in other published reports. In patients with calculi greater than 1,000 HU shock wave lithotripsy achieved a stone-free rate of only 17%. Patients should be informed of the likelihood of treatment failure or need for auxiliary procedures if the Doli S lithotriptor is used, particularly for stones greater than 1,000 HU.