Calculi in medical terms1/11/2024 “Some have darker interior portions.” The surface of kidney stones may either be smooth or jagged. Kidney stones can come in almost any color.Īlthough kidney stones can have various hues, “most kidney stones have a yellowish appearance,” Nabhani says. “Although uric acid and calcium stones are often similar in appearance, you can’t see uric acid stones on an X-ray,” Nabhani says. Uric acid stones, in particular, can be tricky to diagnose without the right tools. They’re called staghorn stones, because they can look like bull horns.” “Struvite stones tend to be softer and larger, sometimes taking up the entire area where urine collects in the kidney. “Calcium and cystine stones are hard,” says Jamal Nabhani, MD, a urologist at Keck Medicine of USC and assistant professor of clinical urology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Cystine stones, which are the rarest, form due to a genetic disorder. Uric acid stones form when urine is too acidic. Struvite stones sometimes occur after repeated urinary tract infections. At around 80% of stones, the calcium type is the most common. There are four major types of kidney stones: calcium, struvite, uric acid and cystine. You may have heard the oft-cited factoid that kidney stones are as painful as childbirth, but do you know what kidney stones are made of or how to prevent them? Here we’ll look into the strange, surprising and even “shocking” truths about them. But hydronephrosis typically affects only one kidney and the other kidney can do the work for both.Do you know which part of the country is nicknamed the “Stone Belt”? Find out this and other fascinating facts about these mineral deposits formed by the human body. Left untreated, severe hydronephrosis can lead to permanent kidney damage. When hydronephrosis makes it hard for the kidney to function - as can happen in more-severe hydronephrosis or in hydronephrosis that involves reflux - surgery may be recommended to fix a blockage or correct reflux. Even so, your doctor may recommend preventive antibiotic therapy to lower the risk of urinary tract infections. Your doctor may opt for a wait-and-see approach to see if you get better on your own. Although surgery is sometimes needed, hydronephrosis often resolves on its own. Treatment for hydronephrosis depends on the underlying cause. Another possibility is a test called a MAG3 scan that evaluates function and drainage in the kidney. If necessary, your doctor may recommend additional imaging exams, such as a CT scan or MRI. A specialized X-ray of the urinary tract that uses a special dye to outline the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra, capturing images before and during urination.An ultrasound imaging exam, during which your doctor can view the kidneys, bladder and other urinary structures to identify potential problems.A urine test to check for signs of infection or urinary stones that could cause a blockage.A blood test to evaluate kidney function.Tests for diagnosing hydronephrosis may include: Your health care provider may refer you to a doctor who specializes in conditions affecting the urinary system (urologist) for your diagnosis. Less-common causes of hydronephrosis include kidney stones, a tumor in the abdomen or pelvis, and problems with nerves that lead to the bladder. Urine flowing the wrong way makes it difficult for the kidney to empty properly and causes the kidney to swell. Typically, urine flows only one way in the ureter. Vesicoureteral reflux happens when urine flows backward through the ureter from the bladder up into the kidney. Less commonly, blockages may occur where the ureter meets the bladder. Urinary tract blockages often form where the kidney meets the ureter. Partial blockage in the urinary tract.Some common causes of hydronephrosis include: But, sometimes urine backs up or remains inside the kidney or in the ureter. Typically, urine passes from the kidney through a tube called a ureter that drains into the bladder, and then out of the body. Urinary problems, such as pain with urination or feeling an urgent or frequent need to urinate.Pain in the side and back that may travel to the lower abdomen or groin.When they occur, signs and symptoms of hydronephrosis might include: Hydronephrosis doesn't always cause symptoms. Hydronephrosis in children may be diagnosed during infancy or sometimes during a prenatal ultrasound before the baby is born.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |