We analyzed the composition of urinary stones using chemical analysis method. From 1985 to 1995, 495 urinary calculi were eligible for stone analysis. Forty six per cent of the stones were composed of single chemical component, and pure calcium
oxalate
stone was the most common type of the stones consisting 34.9% of all stones, followed by 23.8% of mixture of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate, and 92.7% of the stones had calcium component. Calcium oxalate crystal was found in 82.6% of the
stones,
calcium phosphate in 50.5%, ammonium magnesium phosphate in 26.7%, uric acid in 11.3% and cystine in 0.4%. Nation-wide extension of this study using chemical analysis will be mandatory for a proper assessment of the stone composition of Koreans
and
for
planning of the proper management strategies for urinary stones in Korea.
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