Urolithiasis
Classification and external resources
KUB stone
ICD-10	N20.0-N22.0
ICD-9	592
DiseasesDB	11346
eMedicine	ped/2371
MeSH	D052878

Bladder stones incidentally found in a bladder diverticulum during transvesical prostatectomy (removal of the prostate via an incision in the bladder).

Urolithiasis (from Greek oûron, "urine" and λιθoς (lithos, "stone")) is the condition where urinary calculi are formed^[1] in the urinary tract.^[2][3]

The term kidney stone (or "renal calculus") is sometimes used to refer to urolithiasis in any part of the urinary tract. However, the term "kidney stone" is more properly reserved for stones that are actually in the collecting duct of the kidney itself.^[4][5][6]

The term nephrolithiasis can be used to describe the condition of having kidney stones,^[7] and ureterolithiasis can be used to describe the condition of having stones in the ureter.^[8]

Obstruction of the ureter by the kidney stones causes a renal colic attack which is why intense pain is felt in groin and back.

The term bladder stone is more frequently associated with veterinary science.

Urinary stones may be composed of the following substances:^[9]

• Calcium oxalate monohydrate (whewellite)
• Calcium oxalate dihydrate (weddellite)
• Calcium phosphate
• Magnesium phosphate
• Ammonium phosphate
• Ammonium magnesium phosphate (struvite)
• Calcium hydroxyphosphate (apatite)
• Uric acid and its salts (urates)
• Cystine
• Xanthine
• Indigotin (rare)
• Urostealith (rare)
• Sulphonamide (rare)

Please help improve this article by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (October 2008)

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