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Question

Extracorporal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) is most commonly used for the treatment of

The correct answer is
urinary tract stones

ESWL Primary Use: Urinary Tract Stones

Extracorporal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) is a medical procedure that uses focused high-energy shock waves to break down calcifications or stones into smaller pieces. These fragments can then be passed out of the body more easily.

Understanding ESWL Application

The primary and most common application of ESWL is for the treatment of stones located within the urinary tract. This includes:

  • Kidney stones
  • Ureteral stones (stones in the tubes connecting kidneys to the bladder)
  • Bladder stones

ESWL is highly effective for urinary tract stones of appropriate size and composition, offering a non-invasive treatment option.

Alternative Treatments and ESWL

While ESWL targets stones, it is not the standard or most common treatment for conditions mentioned in other options:

  • Gallbladder stones: Typically treated with medication, procedures like ERCP, or surgery (cholecystectomy). ESWL is rarely used.
  • Salivary gland stones: Often managed with hydration, massage, medication, or surgical removal; ESWL is not a common treatment.
  • Abdominal stony-hard tumour: Tumours, even if calcified, are generally treated with methods like surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy, not lithotripsy.

Therefore, ESWL's most frequent use is breaking apart urinary tract stones.

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Important Questions from Urinary System & Surgical Disorders

  1. Which of the following statements are correct regarding renal cell carcinoma? 

    1. It arises from the epithelium of the proximal convoluted tubule. 

    2. It has a female preponderance. 

    3. Major subtypes are clear cell, papillary and chromophobe. 

    4. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for disease. organ-confined 

    Select the answer using the code given below.

  2. Which of the following are features of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease? 

    1. Cyst may also occur in liver, pancreas and arachnoid membrane. 

    2. Most commonly manifests between 20-30 years of age. 

    3. Clinical manifestations are renal and extrarenal. 

    4. Men tend to progress to renal failure more rapidly than women. 

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  3. Which of the following are correct regarding pathology of stress urinary incontinence? 

    1. Hypermobility of urethra 

    2. Ascend of bladder neck and proximal urethra above diaphragm 

    3. Lowered urethral pressure 

    4. Increased detrusor activity 

    Select the answer using the code given below.

  4. Which of the following are correct about ectopic ureters ? 

    1. They are more common in males 

    2. They drain the upper pole of kidney 

    3. They are associated with duplex ureter 

    4. They may cause incontinence 

    Select the correct answer using the code given below :

  5. Anderson-Hynes plasty is a type of repair of
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