Urolithiasis and renal tuberculosis

Frequent occurrence of renal calculi in tuberculous kidneys in Israel

The incidence of renal calculi among renal tuberculous patients, hospitalized during thirty years in a medical center, was evaluated. It was found to be 24.5 per cent, most probably the highest figure so far reported in the medical literature.

Renal calcification in genito-urinary tuberculosis a clinical study

1. Calcification in renal tuberculosis is not warranting a healing process, but may be a clinical manifestation of the disease. 2. Calcification presenting at least one year after the start of treatment should be considered differently from calcification first seen on presentation, and s,ould be treated in the same way as renal calculi. In view of the high incidence of associated active renal tuberculosis, calcification present when first seen should be removed, preferably with partial excision if the lesion is amenable to this form of treatment, but if it is not removed, patients should be followed up indefinitely, as complications can occur at any time. 3. Extra-renal calcification is more common in patients suffering from genito-urinary tuberculosis who present with renal calcification. 4. The incidence of renal calcification in patients suffering from renal tuberculosis is increasing. This could either be due to the host, the pathogenic organism, or possibly the treatment. As the host and treatment have not changed, it would suggest some alteration in the character of the organism.

Urinary tuberculosis

The present incidence, clinical features and classification of urinary tuberculosis are discussed.

Chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment. The indications for surgical intervention are reviewed and procedures briefly described.