Onal B., 2021: Comment to: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in Indian children: Predictors of outcome and validation of pre-treatment nomograms, J Pediatr Urol., 2020

This short comment is a reply to a previously published validation of a nomogram for identification of determinants for successful outcome of SWL. It is correctly emphasized that nomograms need updating over time because of technological achievements and increased experience. For children it was noted that stone size, number of stones, children’s age and any previous intervention were the most important determinants. A quick review of the literature showed that it has become increasingly popular to design and use nomograms for prediction of treatment results. A PubMed search disclosed that there were 19 recent articles with focus on nomograms to be used with SWL. In these nomograms different variables were considered of importance. But although nomograms can be extremely helpful for patient selection it is the reviewer´s opinion that they all come short compared with extensive clinical experience. Hans-Göran Tiselius