Chapter 21. Stone Formation

Summary

The formation of stones in humans stems from a wide range of underlying disorders. That clinicians seek the underlying causes of lithiasis is imperative in order to direct the management of the condition. During recent years, many advances have been made in the genetics, pathophysiology, diagnostic imaging, medical treatment, medical prevention, and surgical intervention of lithiasis. In this chapter we provide a brief general background, and focus mainly on the pathophysiology of stones. Although important advances have been made in understanding lithiasis from the basis of single gene defects, our understanding of pol-ygenetic causes of stones remains largely elusive. A substantial proportion of data that have resulted in new methods of treatment and prevention, and which may be either empirical or definitive, has focused on the chemical composition of the precipitating solute(s). Advances in the management of lithiasis depend on the combined efforts of clinicians and scientists to understand the pathophysiology of stone formation.