(Also Called 'Renal Stones', 'Stone Disease (Kidney Stones)', 'Urethral Calculus')
Kidney stones form when chemicals in the urine become concentrated to the point that they form solid crystals. Larger stones may become lodged in the urinary tract, causing pain, blockage or infection.
The majority of such kidney stones — depending on their size and location — can be removed with minimally invasive techniques such as shock wave lithotripsy (SWL), ureteroscopy, or percutaneous surgery. SWL is a relatively non-invasive procedure that uses targeted shock waves to break stones into tiny pieces that are passed naturally in the urine.
Cleveland Clinic urologists were among the first in Ohio to use lithotripsy, and more than 3,000 patients have had lithotripsy here. Our success rate is greater than 90 percent. The American Urologic Association has designated Cleveland Clinic as a national lithotripsy training center for physicians.
What is a kidney stone?
A kidney stone normally begins as a small crystal-like material and it gradually builds up into a larger, solid mass. Urine normally contains chemicals that inhibit the crystals from forming. Or, if crystals remain small enough they can travel through the urinary tract and pass out of the body without being noticed. However, when crystals combine together to form a kidney stone, it can stick to the lining of the kidney or settle in an area where urine cannot carry it out of the body.
