An analysis of 27 cases of urethral rhinosporidiosis is presented. Only 11 cases have been previously reported. The disease is chronic and causes no systemic derangement. The key to diagnosis is its characteristic histology and diathermy excision provides the best treatment.

To evaluate the efficacy of a semirigid mini-endoscope and the Swiss Lithoclast compared with a conventional rigid endoscope and ultrasound, the results of transurethral ureteroscopic lithotripsy in 147 patients over a period of 30 months were analyzed according to the type of ureteroscope (rigid v semirigid) and energy (ultrasound v Lithoclast) used. In the initial 25 cases (Group I), a conventional rigid ureteroscope and ultrasound were used. The latter 122 patients (Group II) were subjected to ureteroscopic lithotripsy using a miniscope and the Lithoclast. The results were superior in Group II with respect to the overall success rate (p = 1.6 x 10[-2]), first-attempt success rate (p = 2.9 x 10[-4]), and the need for ureteral dilation (P = 1.0 x 10[-6]) compared with Group I. There were no major complications. Overall, minor complications (hematuria and urinary tract infection) were observed in 25% of the cases. Further, the results of ureteroscopic lithotripsy in Group II were comparable to those of SWL in situ for upper ureteral calculi and better than for those located in the iliac and lower ureter as reported previously. Our results demonstrate that the Swiss Lithoclast provides effective fragmentation of even hard and smooth stones without increasing the complication rate. This lithotripter is reliable, safe, and simple to operate. In addition, the cost of maintenance is almost nil.

The migration of intra‐uterine devices into the bladder with the formation of stone occurs rarely (Woods and Wise, 1980). We record an example.

An anomalous position of the gallbladder (GB) is uncommon. Of 40,000 upper abdominal ultrasound examinations, 4 cases of ectopic gallbladder were noted. These were confirmed by hepatobiliary scintigraphy.

No abstract