StoneCenter Glossary

Kidney Stone and Related Terms

Calcium Oxalate Stones - Kidney stones formed by calcium and oxalate crystals. These stones usually develop in acidic urine

Calcium Phosphate Stones - Kidney stones formed by calcium and phosphate crystals. These stones usually develop in alkaline urine.

Crixivan Stones - These stones arise from the use of Protease inhibitor, Crixivan or Indinavir sulfate.

CT Renal Protocol - Helical or spinal cut computerized tomography that gives detailed views of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder.

Cystine Stones - Stones made of cystine crystals.

Cystoscopy - The act of examining the bladder with a scope.

ESWL (Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy) - A procedure whereby a shock wave is transmitted through the body to a stone, thus fragmenting the stone.

Hematuria - Blood in the urine. This may be microscopic or gross blood.

Hypercalciuria - Excretion of excessive amounts of calcium in the urine.

Hyperoxaluria - Excretion of excessive amounts of oxalate in the urine.

Hyperuricosuria - Excretion of excessive amounts of uric acid in the urine.

IVP - These letters stand for intravenous pyelogram which is a kidney x-ray performed by injecting radiopaque contrast into a vein. Multiple pictures of the kidneys are taken to follow the uptake and excretion of the contrast by the kidneys.

Kidney Stone - A crystalline structure or calculus, that forms in the kidney. Examples are calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, uric acid.

KUB - A plain film of the abdomen. These letters stand for kidneys, ureters, and bladder.

Lithotripsy - A procedure that fragments a stone.

Magnesium Ammonium Phosphate Stones - These are also called Struvite or Infection stones. They form in alkaline urine and are associated with urinary tract infection.

Renal Colic - Flank pain caused by obstruction to the flow of urine, often caused by kidney or uretal stones.

Renal Tubular Acidosis - A condition associated with dehydration, metabolic acidosis, low potassium, high chloride. Often associated with renal stones due to hypercalciuria.

Stent - A straight or “double J” tube inserted into the ureter to bypass a stone, or just to keep the ureter open so urine flows freely from the kidney to the bladder.

Struvite Stone - Another name for magnesium ammonium phosphate or infection stones.

Ureteral Stone - A crystalline structure, or calculus, usually found in the kidney that moves into the ureter.

Ureteroscopy - The act of examining the ureter with a scope.

Uric Acid Stones - Kidney stones made of pure uric acid crystals. These stones develop in acidic urine and are radiolucent, that is, they don’t show up on plain x-rays of the abdomen (KUB).