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Ureteral Stones
What are ureteral stones?
A ureteral stone is a kidney stone that has moved down into the ureter. The stone begins as a tiny grain of undissolved material located where urine collects in the kidney. When the urine flows out of the kidney, this grain of undissolved material is left behind. The material deposited is usually a mineral called calcium oxalate. Over time, more undissolved material is deposited, and the stone becomes larger. Most stones enter the ureter when they are still small enough to move down into the bladder. From there, they pass out of the body with urination. Some stones, however, have grown larger by the time they leave the kidney. They may become lodged in a narrow part of the ureter, causing pain and possibly blocking the flow of urine.
How are ureteral stones diagnosed?
Usually the only symptom of a stone is extreme pain. Stones are found on an x-ray or sonogram. These diagnostic images provide urologists with valuable information about the stone's size and location. If your doctor suspects a stone but is unable to make a diagnosis from a simple x-ray, he or she may scan the urinary system using a procedure called an intravenous pyelogram (IVP). Since an IVP requires preparation, it has been replaced in many hospitals by an abdominal/pelvic CT scan, an extremely accurate diagnostic tool that can detect almost all types of ureteral stones.
What are the treatment options?
Treating ureteral stone disease depends on the size, position and number of stones in your system. Fortunately, the majority of small stones (0.2 inch or 4 mm in diameter) that are not causing infection, blockage or symptoms will pass if you drink plenty of fluids each day. The sudden pain that occurs when small stones start down the ureter can usually be treated with rest and analgesics or painkillers. Surgery should be reserved for cases where all other approaches have failed. Surgery may be needed if a stone:
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does not pass after a reasonable period of time and causes constant pain |
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is too large to pass on its own |
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blocks the flow of urine |
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is associated with ongoing urinary tract infection |
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damages kidney tissue or causes constant bleeding |
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has grown larger (as seen on follow-up x-rays) |
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is solitary |
In the past, surgery to remove a ureteral stone was very painful and required a lengthy recovery time (four to six weeks). Today, treatment is greatly improved, and most options require only minor outpatient procedures to break the stones into small pieces so they can either be removed or pass on their own.
Kidney Stones
What is a kidney stone?
A stone forms in the kidney when there is an imbalance between certain urinary components (chemicals such as calcium, oxalate and phosphate) that promote crystallization and others that inhibit it. The most common stones contain calcium in combination with oxalate and/or phosphate. [read more]
Kidney Cancer
What is a kidney tumor?
A kidney tumor is an abnormal growth within the kidney, which may be benign or malignant. Solid kidney tumors, although they may be benign, are cancerous more than 90 percent of the time. Kidney cancer is slightly more common in males and is usually diagnosed between the ages of 50 and 70. The most common kidney cancer is called renal cell carcinoma.
What are the symptoms of kidney cancer?
Many kidney tumors do not produce symptoms, but they may be detected incidentally during the evaluation of an unrelated problem. Compression, stretching and invasion of structures near the kidney may cause pain (in the flank, abdomen or back), palpable mass, and blood in the urine (microscopic or grossly visible). If the cancer spreads (metastasizes) beyond the kidney, symptoms depend upon the organ(s) involved.
How is kidney cancer diagnosed and treated?
Unfortunately, there are no blood or urine tests that directly detect the presence of kidney tumors. When a kidney tumor is suspected, a kidney imaging study is obtained. The initial imaging study is usually an ultrasound or CT scan. In some cases, a combination of studies may be required to assess the tumor completely. If cancer is suspected, you should be evaluated to determine if the cancer has spread beyond the kidney. When the tumor appears confined to the kidney (a “localized” tumor), there are three main treatment options: tumor removal, tumor ablation (removal of diseased tissue) and surveillance. Chemotherapy, hormone therapy and radiation therapy are not effective treatments for kidney cancer. If the tumor invades into the renal vein or vena cava (vein carrying blood to the heart), open surgery is recommended to remove the affected kidney and to extract the tumor from the veins. When the tumor has spread to other organs, there are four primary treatment options: nephrectomy (surgical removal of the kidney) followed by immunotherapy, initial treatment with immunotherapy, clinical research trials and surveillance.
Other Kidney Disorders
Some other major kidney disorders include the following: Conn's Syndrome (also known as primary hyperaldosteronism), Cushing's Syndrome, ectopic kidneys, kidney (renal) abscess, kidney (renal) failure, kidney (renal) trauma, pheochromocytoma, renovascular disease, ureteropelvic junction obstruction, renal fusion, renal dysplasia and cystic disease.
Other Urologic Diseases
Read more about other urologic diseases.
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