How Are Kidney Stones Diagnosed and Treated?
Not so long ago, the only way to remove kidney stones was surgery. Modern methods of treatment allow to avoid invasive procedures. Today, surgery is performed in less than 5% of cases.
To start treatment, a correct diagnosis is crucial. Different types of stones need to be treated in different ways.
Diagnosing kidney stones starts with collecting your medical history, doing physical examinations and imaging tests. Your doctors will want to know the exact size and shape of the stones, so they can refer you for the following tests:
- urine test, which detects blood and salt content in the urine and also determines the level of urine acidity;
- complete blood count and biochemical blood test, which show the presence of inflammatory processes in your body. They allow to determine the composition of the stones;
- kidney ultrasound. It reveals the size of the stones, their exact location, how dangerous they are and what harm they have already caused to the body;
- X-Ray. This method allows to accurately determine where the stones are located, as well as to make a final diagnosis.
Advertisements
Advertisements
