Difficult Renal Stones
Calyceal Diverticula

Calyceal diverticula are thin-walled cystic cavities located in the peripheral to an otherwise normal calyx, which communicate through a narrow channel. They are lined by transitional epithelium, which is the same tissue that lines the urinary tract. These cysts may originate from embryogenesis, blunt renal trauma or obstruction. They occur in any part of the kidney, but usually originate from an upper pole calyx.

Calyceal diverticulum with multiple stones. a, Abdominal plain film shows multiple calculi (arrow) over the upper pole of the right kidney. b, On ten-minute excretory urogram (EXU), all stones are shown to be locate in an upper pole calyceal diverticulum (arrow).

Calyceal diverticula are found in both males and females. Stones may occur in diverticulum. Thirty-six percent of diverticula were found to have stones in one series. These stones may include calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate or carbonate apatite.

Suggested readings
Cohen TD, Preminger GM. Management of calyceal calculi. Urol Clin North Am 1997, 24:1:81-96.

Abeshouse BS, Abeshouse GA: Calyceal diverticulum: A report of 16 cases and review of the literature. Urol Int 15:329, 1963.

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