Kidney Stone Analysis

What To Think About

• About 90% of kidney stones can be seen on an X-ray.
• A computed tomography (CT) scan of the ureters and kidneys (also called a CT urogram) is the most common way to find kidney stones. For more information, see the medical test CT Scan of the Body.
• Ultrasound may also be used to find kidney stones. For more information, see the medical test Abdominal Ultrasound.
• Another test that can be done to find a kidney stone is intravenous pyelogram (IVP). During IVP, a dye is put into a vein in your arm. As the dye moves to the kidneys, X-rays are taken to watch the movement of the dye and see where a stone may be. For more information, see the medical test Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP).
• Most kidney stones have calcium in them. A low-calcium diet does not often prevent stones from forming. For more information on lowering your chance for a kidney stone, see the topic Kidney Stones.
• Knowing the type of kidney stone helps guide the best treatment choice.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: October 25, 2006
Medical Review:	Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine Philip Belitsky, MD, FRCSC - Urology
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