Nephrolithiasis

Abstract

The term nephrolithiasis, often used synonymously with urolithiasis, refers to the formation of solid concretions consisting of both protein and crystalline materials in the lumen of the urinary tract. These calculi, or “stones,” become symptomatic when they cause acute obstruction, and as such, there are an unknown but probably large number of individuals with nephrolithiasis who are subclinical, without signs or symptoms. This review covers the pathophysiology, stabilization and assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of nephrolithiasis. Figures show ultrasound images of a stone with shadowing, a stone with a twinkling artifact, hydronephrosis, and a stone with shadowing at the ureterovesicular junction and a computed tomographic (CT) image showing a renal calculus at the ureterovesicular junction. Tables list drug-induced renal calculi, the proportion of stones spontaneously passing depending on size category as identified on CT, diagnostic test characteristics for renal colic diagnosis, the clinical prediction rule for the risk of renal stones, an example of the theoretical probability of stone disease using Moore and colleagues’ risk stratification, pooled test characteristics, bayesian analysis, and important pathology diagnosed on CT scan in the investigation of flank pain in four studies. Key words: kidney stone, nephrolithiasis, renal calculus, renal stone, urolithiasis This review contains 5 highly rendered figures, 6 tables, and 75 references.