Urinary stones are hard masses made up of mineral salts, mainly calcium oxalate, that can cause symptoms such as pain, nausea, and decreased urine output. They are caused by an imbalance of fluids and minerals in the body and can be diagnosed through tests such as CT scans. Treatment options include increasing fluid intake, medication, and surgical removal or shock wave lithotripsy.
Urinary stones are hard masses, commonly called stones – the word ‘calculi’ literally means ‘pebbles’ in Latin – that are found throughout the urinary tract. They are made up of mineral salts, mainly calcium oxalate in most cases, and are typically formed in the kidneys. Bladder stones, or bladder stones, are those found in the urinary bladder. If they are found in the kidney or pelvic area, they are called kidney or kidney stones.
Symptoms of urinary stones can vary quite a bit, depending on their size, but some of the most common signs are blood or pus in the urine; severe pain that comes and goes, usually in the groin and lower back; nausea and vomit; and less urine output because stones block the urinary tract. If the stones are causing an infection, there may be a burning sensation when urinating. There may be no symptoms, as is most often the case, if the stones are small and can only be seen as a result of some type of scan.
Urinary stones are caused by an imbalance of fluids and certain minerals in the body. When some mineral salts are in excess, stones form. There is usually an underlying metabolic disorder causing the imbalance and the disturbances are associated with the predominant mineral involved in stone formation. For example, in the event that the stone consists mainly of calcium oxalate – which is about 85% of the stones found – a common underlying disorder is hyperparathyroidism, the parathyroid being the gland responsible for controlling the amount of calcium in the body and “hyper” means that it is in excess.
Stones are further tested for chemical composition when they have been passed or have been surgically extracted. Depending on which mineral is predominant in the composition of the stones, a follow-up test(s) may be performed. Tests can help determine what the underlying disorder is.
The most common and most reliable diagnostic test done to look for or confirm urinary stones is computed tomography (CT) scan; only very rare types of stones go undetected on CT scans. However, CT scans are expensive and cause radiation, an acute danger in some cases such as pregnancy. Other tests are available, including x-rays, ultrasounds, and urine and/or blood tests. They are either less expensive than CT scans, as is the case with X-rays, or they don’t cause radiation, as is the case with ultrasounds, blood tests, and urine tests.
Urinary stones are usually treated by encouraging them to pass, or pushed through the urinary tract, usually by increasing the amount of fluids consumed and in some cases with the help of certain medications. If the stones are too large to pass, or if they don’t pass after about a month, they can be surgically removed or treated with shock wave lithotripsy. This treatment sends sound waves through the body and breaks up stones so they can be passed.
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