Lakshmi Sundararajan1*, Heera Tharanendran1 and Ramesh Babu2
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, CHILDS Trust Medical Research Foundation, Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital, India
2Department of Pediatric Urology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Reasearch, India
*Corresponding author: Lakshmi Sundararajan, Department of Pediatric Surgery, CHILDS Trust Medical Research Foundation, Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital, Chennai, India
Submission: February 02, 2021 Published: March 26, 2021
ISSN: 2577-9200 Volume5 Issue3
A six-year-old boy with kidney matrix stones in solitary kidney is presented. Kidney matrix stones present in adults with atypical calcification on X-ray and CT, in the setting of recurrent urinary tract infections and instrumentation. These stones are not amenable to ESWL due to low calcium content. Complete stone clearance and prompt treatment of UTI are essential.ith Trichobezoar, to highlight psychological disorders that can cause trichotillomania and trichophagia.
Keywords: Kidney; Matrix stones; Urolithiasis; Ureteroscopy; Pyelolithotomy; Children
Introduction Kidney matrix stones are soft, pliable and amorphous calculi, reported only in adults [1- 4]. We herein report a child with solitary kidney and recurrent renal calculi with atypical calcification on imaging identified as kidney matrix stones. This case is presented for its rarity and to create awareness about the entity.
A six-year-old male child presented with acute renal failure and obstructive uropathy, elevated blood urea and serum creatinine, hyperkalemia, acidosis and urosepsis (elevated c-reactive protein and total count). The patient had undergone right nephrectomy and left pyelolithotomy two years earlier for bilateral staghorn calculi elsewhere. An X-ray abdomen showed multiple large calculi of varying size in left renal fossa with eggshell type calcification (Figure 1A).
Figure 1:
A. Plain X-ray abdomen showing, radiolucent calculus with peripheral rim
enhancement in the left renal pelvis and a radiopaque calculus in lower pole calyx
B. CT KUB showing heterogeneous incomplete stag horn calculus with denser
calcification at the center and atypically low Hounsfield units (+120HU)
C. RGP showing a tight stricture at ureter pelvic junction.
Ultrasonogram (USG) of the abdomen revealed gross pyonephrosis of the solitary left kidney filled with multiple calculi. Patient was stabilised with a period of hydration, intra venous antibiotics and catheter drainage. Under general anesthesia a cystoscopic retrograde left Double-J (DJ) stent placement was performed; negotiation was difficult but succeeded with c-arm imaging. Computerised Tomography (CT) post-stabilisation showed heterogeneous incomplete calculus (Figure 1B) with denser calcification at the centre and atypically low Hounsfield units (+120HU). A percutaneous nephrolithotomy was planned but a Retro Grade Pyelogram (RGP) revealed a tight stricture at uretero pelvic junction (Figure 1C). Hence, open pyeloplasty, pyelolithotomy and antegrade stenting was performed. The retrieved stones were soft white and fleshy (Figure 2A) Histological assessment of the retrieved material showed lamellated appearance of pink amorphous acellular material (Figure 2B) with areas of calcification. Stone analysis revealed fine orthorhombic crystals of magnesium ammonium phosphate and protein material.
Figure 2:
A. Gross specimen showing Soft, white, fleshy
mass
B. Histopathological examination showing
Lamellated pink amorphous material.
At the time of planned DJ Stent removal after 6 weeks, an RGP showed a large recurrent filling defect in pelvis. Hence, rigid ureteroscopy was done, and the residual recurrent fleshy masses in the pelvis, which were extracted with grasper (Figure 3A). The matrix calculi appear fleshy like a white grape at ureteroscopy (Figure 3B). During the 6-month follow-up he passed some more whitish rounded fleshy mass in the urine exactly similar to what was seen at ureteroscopy. Repeat CT at 1 year follow up showed no residual calculi. A metabolic work up for stone disease was uncharacteristic.
Figure 3:Rigid ureteroscopy showing
A. Recurrent fleshy mass in the pelvis being
extracted with basket
B. White grape like structure represents matrix
calculus.
Renal matrix calculi are a rare subtype of kidney stones which
were first reported 100 years ago by Gage and Beal1 and have also been called fibrinomas, colloid calculi, or albumin calculi. While
more frequently encountered calcigerous stones tend to be brittle,
matrix stones by contrast are soft, amorphous, and pliable. On
average in this subtype of calculus, the noncrystalline, mucoprotein
matrix accounts for 65% of its dry weight, compared to just 2.5%
in more conventional stones [2]. Analysis by Boyce and Garvey 3
found the matrix to consist of mucopolysaccharide (one-third) and
protein (two-thirds).
They have predominantly been reported in adult women. The
main risk factors for this type of stones are previous surgery for
stone disease and/or recurrent UTIs, especially due to Proteus
mirabilis or Escherichia-coli [4]. Proteinuric patients with
glomerulonephritis on dialysis are also at high risk of developing
matrix calculi. The child in our report had also undergone multiple
procedures previously for stone disease and had recurrent urinary
tract infections.
The clinical presentation of patients with matrix stones is
similar to those with calcigerous stones. Because of the soft
consistency of matrix stones, they may conform to the shape of
renal pelvis and ureter thereby causing gradual urinary obstruction
and renal failure [5]. Singh H et al. [6] & Matthews LA et al. [7]
described cases of bilateral ureteric obstruction and acute renal
failure secondary to bilateral matrix calculi. Patients can also rarely
develop emphysematous Pyelonephritis [8].
Imaging appearances vary depending on the mineral
composition and the pattern of distribution within the collecting
system [9]. Plain X-ray in the present child showed a predominantly
radiolucent stone with rim enhancement in the left pelvis, which
on ultrasound showed a solid structure without the normal
hyperechogenicity of stones and lacked post-acoustic shadowing.
Unenhanced CT may identify these calculi which are described as
having a mineral rim and soft tissue centre. In our case, CT showed
heterogeneous calculi filling renal pelvis with low Hounsfield units
(+120HU), which was very atypical for a calculus on CT imaging.
Diagnostic uncertainty is common, especially where differential
diagnoses for filling defects in adults include tumors [9]. On MRI, the
matrix stones have hypointense signal in T1-weighted images, with
no contrast enhancement following Gadolinium administration;
T2-weighted images show a slight hyperintense signal. However,
no specific radiological modality can definitively diagnose matrix
stones and surgical intervention is frequently needed [9]. RGP can
be used intra operatively as diagnostic tool [5]. Though we avoided
RGP at the initial presentation in view of active infection and renal
failure, RGP done after the acute episode showed tight stricture at
PUJ and filling defects in the pelvicalyceal system. Endourological
management is usually advocated; the choice lying between
retrograde treatment and Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL)
depending on stone burden and location [8]. In our case we opted
for an open procedure as there was associated PUJ stricture, which
was dealt with open pyelothitomy and pyeloplasty. Retrograde
ureterorenoscopy can be diagnostic in complex presentation as
well as therapeutic for stone retrieval. In our case the recurrent
stone was retrieved using rigid ureteroscope.
For complete clearance of larger stones, PCNL is preferred as
it has been shown to achieve excellent results with low recurrence
rates. Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) is usually
ineffective due to the stone’s gelatinous nature and a lack of
breakable mineral content [10]. Fortunately, these stones have a
very low recurrence rate once the stone is cleared completely [10].
Shah HN et al. [8] in his study stated that antibiotics for 4-6 weeks
after PCNL, combined with RGP confirmation of stone clearance at
the time of ureteric stent removal, accounts for the virtual absence
of recurrent stones. To summarize kidney matrix calculi can pose
diagnostic and therapeutic challenges and our case illustrates one
such situation.
© 2021 Lakshmi Sundararajan. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.