Renal calculi; Nephrolithiasis; Stones - kidney

The main symptom is severe pain that starts suddenly and may go away suddenly:

• Pain may be felt in the belly area or side of the back
• Pain may move to groin area (groin pain) or testicles (testicle pain)

Other symptoms can include:

• Abnormal urine color
• Blood in the urine
• Chills
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Pain can be severe enough to need narcotic pain relievers. The belly area (abdomen) or back might feel tender to the touch.

Tests for kidney stones include:

• Analysis of the stone to show what type of stone it is
• Uric acid level
• Urinalysis to see crystals and red blood cells in urine

Stones or a blockage of the ureter can be seen on:

• Abdominal CT scan
• Abdominal/kidney MRI
• Abdominal x-rays
• Intravenous pyelogram ( IVP )
• Kidney ultrasound
• Retrograde pyelogram

Tests may show high levels of calcium, oxylate, or uric acid in the urine or blood.

Images

Kidney anatomy

Intravenous pyelogram (IVP)

Lithotripsy procedure

Kidney - blood and urine flow

Nephrolithiasis

Kidney stones

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Kidney stones Treatment

Review Date: 01/14/2009
Reviewed By: Louis S. Liou, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Urology, Department of Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)