Aim: We assessed the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) monotherapy for isolated lower pole nephrolithiasis with favorable anatomy and compared treatment efficacy with regard to different stone sizes. Materials and Methods: From February 1999 to December 2002, adult patients with simple, radiopaque lower pole kidney stones were treated using a Stonelith V3 Lithotriptor (PCK, Turkey). Patients were stratified into four groups based on stone diameter. These groups included stone diameters of =70°, IL5 mm) were included in the study. Results: The overall stone-free rate was 84.5%. The stone-free rates in patient groups according to stone size were 90%, 84%, 57%, and 50%, respectively. The difference in success between stone groups was statistically significant. The success rates in the first (

Aim: We assessed the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) monotherapy for isolated lower pole nephrolithiasis with favorable anatomy and compared treatment efficacy with regard to different stone sizes. Materials and Methods: From February 1999 to December 2002, adult patients with simple, radiopaque lower pole kidney stones were treated using a Stonelith V3 Lithotriptor (PCK, Turkey). Patients were stratified into four groups based on stone diameter. These groups included stone diameters of =70°, IL5 mm) were included in the study. Results: The overall stone-free rate was 84.5%. The stone-free rates in patient groups according to stone size were 90%, 84%, 57%, and 50%, respectively. The difference in success between stone groups was statistically significant. The success rates in the first (