Calculus (medicine) - Pathophysiology and Symptoms

Pathophysiology and Symptoms

Stones can cause disease by several mechanisms:

• Irritation of nearby tissues, causing pain, swelling, and inflammation.
• Obstruction of an opening or duct, interfering with normal flow and disrupting the function of the organ in question.
• Predisposition to infection (often due to disruption of normal flow).

A number of important medical conditions are caused by stones:

• Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)
  • Can cause hydronephrosis (swollen kidneys) and renal failure
  • Can predispose to pyelonephritis (kidney infections)
  • Can progress to urolithiasis
• Urolithiasis (urinary bladder stones)
  • Can progress to bladder outlet obstruction
• Cholelithiasis (gallstones)
  • Can predispose to cholecystitis (gall bladder infections) and ascending cholangitis (biliary tree infection)
  • Can progress to choledocholithiasis (gallstones in the bile duct) and gallstone pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
• Gastric calculi can cause colic, obstruction, torsion, and necrosis.