Urolithiasis in children; The importance of stone localization in treatment and follow-up

To evaluate the demographic, etiologic, treatment, and follow-up differences in stones according to their location within the kidney. This retrospective study comprised 337 patients with urolithiasis between 2015 and 2019. Patients were classified into 2 groups according to stone location as lower pole stones (LPS) and upper-middle pole stones (UMPS). The patient's data were recorded at 3-month intervals for one year. One hundred and eighty-three (54.3%) female and 154 (45.7%) men were included in the study. One hundred and twenty-nine (38.3%) of the stones were in the LPS and 208 (61.7%) in the UMPS. UMPS was more common in patients aged > 12 months (p < 0.01). At least one metabolic risk factor was present in 93 (72.1%) patients with LPS and 164 (78.4%) with UMPS. The most common urinary metabolic risk factors were hyperoxaluria (31.8%) in patients with LPS and hypocitraturia (34.1%) in patients with UMPS. ROC analysis results showed that cut-off values of 5.5 mm for LPS and 6.1 mm for UMPS did not provide improve with medical treatment. At the 6- and 12-month follow-ups, the improvement rates were higher in the UMPS group than in the LPS group (p < 0.05). During the follow-up, recurrence was detected in 43 patients: 29% of patients with LPS and 5.8% of patients with UMPS (p < 0.01). Patients with small stones can be followed up. Surgical treatment may be considered for small stones in the LPS. In addition, the risk of recurrence is higher in patients with LPS, and close follow-up is required.