Urinary stone diagnosis. Morphologic and composition analysis.

Analysis of urinary stones is an essential step in establishing the diagnosis and treatment of the stone patient. In fact, the need for an exhaustive study of the stones increases as the relationships between the type of stone and the etiological factors that predispose to this disease become evident. The enumeration (qualitative or quantitative) of the major components that make up the kidney stone (calcium oxalate monohydrate, calcium oxalate dihydrate, uric acid, calcium phosphates, cystine), which is obtained by the most commonly used analytical method, infrared spectroscopy (IR), is no longer enough to guide the urologist on the etiology of the disease. Only a detailed structural analysis and macro and micro components can provide key information on the etiology of the stone, and therefore, on the possible causes that have led to its formation. This study should conclude with a report that is provided to the Urologist. Obtaining this report involves a detailed study, sample by sample, which involves the systematic handling of stereoscopic microscopy, IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-raymicroanalysis (EDAX).