Types of Kidney Stones

There are many types of kidney stones.

1. Calcium Oxalate Calculi.

•  75%
• Occur in alkaline urine
• Called Mulberry stones
• With sharp projections
• Cause bleeding
• Often black due to altered blood on their surface
• Symptomatic even when small

Calcium Oxalate Calculus Pic 1

Calcium Oxalate Calculus Pic 2

X-Ray KUB Showing Renal Stones

2. Phosphate Calculi.

• 15%
• Occur in strongly alkaline urine
• Commonly occur against a background of chronic urinary infection
• Usually compounds of magnesium, ammonium and calcium phosphate
• Surface is smooth
• Dirty white in colour
• May grow rapidly & fill the calyceal system of kidney taking on their shape ( Staghorn calculi)
• Also called struvite calculi

 Phosphate Calculi

Staghorn Calculus

3. Uric Acid Calculi

• 5%
• Occur in acid urine
• Due to a consequence of high level of uric acid in urine
• Hard in consistency
• Surface is smooth
• Light brown in colour
• Radio logically translucent

4. Cystine Calculi

• 2%
• Relatively rare
• Occur in acid urine
• Usually multiple
• White in colour
• Extremely hard in consistency, so difficult to treat
• Metabolic origin (Decreased reabsorption of cystine from the renal tubules)

5. Xanthine and Pyruvate Calculi

• 1%
• Rare
• Inborn error of metabolism is cause.

Pyelolithotomy