PCN placement leads to greater radiation exposure for pregnant women

Initial percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) tube placement leads to more radiation exposure for pregnant women with suspected kidney stones, according to a study published October 27 in Urology. Researchers led by Madison Lyon, MD, from the Glickman Urologic Institute in Cleveland, OH, found that PCN placement after initial imaging is significantly tied to a higher number of procedures, radiation exposure per procedure, and total radiation exposure per suspected stone episode compared with stent and primary ureteroscopy. “Based on discussions with our interventional radiology colleagues, dislodged PCNs or severe encrustation may result in much longer and more complex procedures, including the potential need for entirely new access into the collecting system, thereby resulting in higher fluoroscopy use,” Lyon and colleagues wrote. While the incidence of kidney stones – otherwise known as obstructing nephrolithiasis – is low in pregnant women, they can have serious consequences on the health of the mother and fetus. In cases of suspected obstructing nephrolithiasis, intervention may be required. Options include ureteral stent, PCN, or primary ureteroscopy, with the potential for multiple subsequent procedures that often use fluoroscopy. The Lyon team wanted to investigate the potential differences in radiation exposure per suspected stone episode between the options. It included data from 78 patients. Out of the total, 40 underwent initial stent placement, 22 underwent i...
Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Womens Imaging Breast Imaging Interventional Radiology Source Type: news