Expert: Walter Hintz - 9/12/2005

Question
hello mr walter hintz,
                    hope to find u in good health. i have a question regarding the presence of stone in kidney.what is its cause? y they recur? and can they be permanently cured? hope to make my point clear.
regards
abdul rahman sheikh

Answer
Nice to hear from you again Abdul:
These stones are formed by a buildup of crystals that separate from the urine inside the kidney.  They usually consist of calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate.  The cause in most cases is unknown but often runs in families and can recur in individuals.  Most pass out in the urine but some are large and block the ureters causing great pain.  They can be removed surgically and there is a method whereby they are destroyed in the body with ultrasound waves.