Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

kidney cancer
See 
cancer, kidney.
kidney scoping
See 
retrograde intrarenal
surgery.
12_189283 ch11.qxp 4/18/08 10:16 PM Page 233
http://www.rashidislamiccenter.com
http://www.allofislam.com/

---

kidney stone
A stone in the kidney or a stone
that originates in the kidney but has passed lower
down in the urinary tract. Kidney stones are a com-
mon cause of blood in the urine and pain in the
abdomen, flank, or groin. The development of kid-
ney stones is related to decreased urine volume or
to increased excretion of stone-forming compo-
nents, such as calcium, oxalate, urate, cystine, xan-
thine, and phosphate. The stones form in the
urine-collecting area (pelvis) of the kidney and may
range in size from tiny to “staghorn” stones the size
of the renal pelvis itself. Factors that predispose
people to kidney stones include reduction in fluid
intake, increased exercise with dehydration, med-
ications that cause high uric acid (hyperuricemia),
and a history of gout. Pain from kidney stones is
usually of sudden onset, very severe and intermit-
tent, and not improved by changes in position, and
it radiates from the back, down the flank, and into
the groin. Nausea and vomiting are common. The
majority of stones pass spontaneously within 48
hours. However, some stones do not. Several factors
influence the ability to pass a stone, including the
size of the person, prior stone passage, prostate
enlargement, pregnancy, and the size of the stone. If
a stone does not pass, the help of a urology special-
ist may be needed. Routine treatment includes relief
of pain, hydration, and, if there is concurrent uri-
nary infection, administration of antibiotics. Also
known as nephrolithiasis.