Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are solid pieces of material that form from crystallization of excreted substances in the urine. Stones may
remain in the kidney or break loose and travel down the urinary tract. A small stone may pass all of the way out of the body,
but a larger stone can get stuck in a ureter, the bladder or the urethra. This may block the flow of urine and cause great
pain.
A kidney stone may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a pearl. Although stones may be as large as golf balls, some
80 percent of kidney stones are less than two millimeters in width. They may be smooth or jagged and are usually yellow or
brown in color.
Comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic options
If you or someone you care about is suffering from a kidney stone, turn to the urologists at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.
We specialize in helping patients who have had recurring kidney stones and/or have previously experienced unsuccessful treatments.
However, we can help treat anyone who is suffering from this painful, and very common, condition.
Through our wide variety of imaging diagnostics, we can help to ensure accurate assessment of each patient’s condition. We
also offer a complete spectrum of modern treatments, including some of the nation’s most advanced endoscopic work. Other therapies
range from dietary-medical approaches to shockwave lithotripsy, which enables us to break up kidney stones so they pass through
the urinary system without invasive surgery.
Additional information about kidney stones
