The dramatic evolution of new technology in diagnostic and therapeutic radiology has changed the whole field of medicine. Ultrasonography, computed tomography, nuclear magnetic resonance, and digital radiography are those new techniques which are undergoing continuous development, providing us with increasingly re fined methods for establishing the cause of disease and for treating the patient. Using radiologic technique, ingenious methods are continuously being developed to en sure less expensive, less traumatic, and more efficient therapy. Transluminal angio plasty, embolization of tumors or bleeding vessels, extraction or dissolution of stones, and regional infusions are some of these therapeutic methods in modem diagnostic radiology. Every day new ideas arise which are published in a multitude of papers. This heavy flow of information limits the possibility of selecting from a core of information and often prevents radiologists from communicating efficiently with their colleagues in other countries or continents. European radiologists are additionally hampered from participating in international communication because of the language barriers created by the national journals. As a result, Europe's contribution to scientific progress in this interdisciplinary field has influenced only regional developments."

Since the early days of medicine one concern of doctors has been the removal of kidney stones and prevention of recurrence. Owing to the hesitancy of progress in the prevention of initial stone formation and of relapse, however, removal of stones from the kidney and ureter were developed to highly refined techniques and they formerly accounted for a major proportion of the urological operations performed. In the last few years developments in the treatment of kidney stones have taken a completely different turn. In the majority of cases suit able methods are available to bring about spontaneous passage of the stones, while in a smaller proportion drug-induced litholysis is pos sible. Stones that cannot be passed are now treated mainly with extra corporeal shockwave lithotripsy, percutaneous litholapaxy or uretero renoscopy. These methods are often used in combination and comple ment each other. Nonetheless, despite the accumulating experience with the new methods there will still be situations in which stones can not be removed except by open surgery. "Our skill as surgeons and the management of the brilliantly designed equipment would amount to nothing more than highly skilled mechanical work if they did not go hand in hand with enhanced insight into the cause of lithiasis and thus into ways of preventing it - or at least of preventing the relapse that is the lot of most patients."

Ziel dieses Buches ist es, das bisherige Wissen fiber das Harn- steinleiden umfassend darzustellen und neuere Entwicklun- gen anzusprechen. Aufgrund der speziellen Gliederung des Stoffes muBten einige Aspekte von mehreren Autoren aufge- griffen werden. 1m Interesse einer instruktiven Darstellung aller Kapitel wurden dabei gelegentlich Wiederholungen, im Interesse einer kritischen Darstellung gelegentlich auch kon- troverse Darstellungen in Kauf genommen. Ich hoffe, daB dies den Leser anregt, er aber letztlich immer eine klare Ant- wort auf seine Fragen findet. Weiterffihrende Literatur ist jeweils am Ende eines Kapitels zu finden. Allen Koautoren mochte ich sehr herzlich fUr ihre Mitarbeit und ihr Engagement danken. Auch dem Verlag gehOrt ein Wort des Dankes fUr seine Einsatz- und Hilfsbereitschaft. Ich haffe mit den Kaautaren, daB das Buch eine breite Auf- nahme findet und den Studenten wie allen am Thema interes- sierten Anten zum Wohl unserer Patienten zum Nutzen ist. Bonn, im April 1987 W. Vahlensieck Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Epidemiologie und Kausalfaktoren (w. Vahlensieck) 1 Literatur. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 2 Formalgenese (w. Dosch) 47 Literatur . . 82 3 Diagnostik . . . . . . . . . . . " 91 3. 1 Spezielle Anamnese (w. Vahlensieck) . . . 91 3. 2 Klinische Untersuchung und bildgebende Verfahren (w. Vahlensieck und D. Bach) . . 99 3. 3 Laboruntersuchungen (W. Vahlensieck, A Hesse und D. Bach) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 3. 4 Harnsteinanalysen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151 3. 4. 1 Harnsteinanalyse mittels Rontgendiffraktion (M. Gebhardt und K. -F. Seifert) . . . . . . . . . . 151 3. 4. 2 Polarisationsmikroskopische Harnsteinanalyse (A Hesse) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 3. 4. 3 Harnsteinanalyse mittels Infrarotspektroskopie (AHesse) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 3. 4. 4 Rasterelektronenmikroskopie (H. -P. Bastian) . . . 215 Literatur . . . . . . . . 224 4 Harnsteinentfernung . . . . . . .