X-ray diffraction analysis of urinary tract stones

Aim: To analyze urinary tract stones obtained in our clinic using various methods and to determine the spectrum of stonecomposition in the Eastern Anatolia Region, Turkey.Materials and methods: A total of 300 stones were obtained at Atatürk University, Faculty of Medicine Urology Clinic through open surgery, percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL), ureterorenoscopy (URS), and extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) between 1 January 2005 and 30 December 2008. Stones were analyzed in the laboratory of Ankara General Directorate of Mineral Research Exploration using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results: It was found that 218 (72.7%) of the 300 stones were calcium oxalate (CaOx); 170 (56.7%) of which were calciu moxalate monohydrate (COM), 12 (4%) were calcium oxalate dehydrate (COD), and 36 (12%) were COM and COD combined stones; 23 (7.7%) were uric acid (UA), 6 (2%) were magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP), 3 (1%) were dahllite (DAH/hydroxyl apatite), 2 (0.6%) were cystine (CYS) stones, and 34 (11.3%) were a combination of UA and COM stones. The remaining 14 (4.7%) stones were a combination of other stones.Conclusion: The stone analysis study was carried out using the XRD method on 300 samples in the Eastern Anatolia Region, where the prevalence of urinary tract stones is relatively high. The analysis showed that 72.7% of all stones were CaOx stone and 56.7% were pure COM stones