The analysis of urinary calculi is an essential step in the examination and initial treatment of the patient with urolithiasis. Among the various methods of stone analysis, we have used x-ray diffraction method for analyzing urinary calculi. The advantage of x-ray diffraction is its almost absolute identification of crystalline materials and mixtures of crystalline materials. The disadvantage of x-ray diffraction include initial high cost of equipment and inability to identify amorphous materials and constituents present in only minor or trace amounts.
We have analyzed 127 urinary calculi by x-ray diffraction method, which were obtained from the patients who were admitted to the Department of Urology, Chosun University Hospital during the period of 5 years from Jan. l98l to Dec. l985.
The following results were obtained:
1. In this studies, 8 crystalline components of urinary calculi were demonstrated: Calcium oxalate monohydrate, Calcium oxalate dehydrate, Calcium oxalate trihydrate, Hydroxyl-apatite, Magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate, Calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate, Uric acid and Cystine.
2. Calculi of single component, comprising 73 (57.6%) of the total, was more common than those of mixed component, 54 (42.4%) of the total. Calcium oxalate monohydrate was the most common pure calculi, composing 46 (36.2 %) of all pure calculi and mixed calcium oxalate monohydratecalcium oxalate dihydrate calculi was the most common mixed calculi, constituting 20 (15.7%) of all mixed Calculi.
3. Classifying author`s results as Jensen`s classification, pure calcium oxalate and calcium oxalate apatite mixtures composed 87.3% of total, magnesium ammonium phosphate-apatite mixtures constituted 4.O%, uric acid comprised 6.5%.
4. Among the all urinary components analyzed in this studies, calcium oxalate monohydrate was the most common constituent, composing 78% of the total and calcium oxalate dihydrate was the second common constituent, comprising 37.6%, calcium oxalate was the most common component, composing 9l.3% of the total.
5. In the components associated with calcium oxalate monohydrate, calcium oxalate dihydrate was the most common associated component, in calcium oxalate dihydrate calcium oxalate monohydrate, in hydroxyl-apatite calcium oxalate monohydrate, in uric acid calcium oxalate monohydrate
6. According to the distribution of urinary component in each urinary organ, calcium oxalate (esp. calcium oxalate monohydrate exceeded 50%) was the most common component in entire urinary tract, which comprised 59.1% of all renal calculi, 69.4% of all ureteral calculi, 33.3% of all bladder calculi and 100% of all urethral calculi. 7. Of 44 renal calculi, 30 were composed of staghorn calculi, in which calcium oxalate was the most common component, constituting 56.6% of 30 staghorn calculi.
Key Word: calcium oxalate
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