Kidney stones

Type: Concept

As of November 2026, Kidney stones has been mentioned in one podcast episode on American History Tellers (Sep 2025).

Kidney stone disease or urinary stone disease is a crystallopathy that occurs when there is an excess of minerals in the urine and not enough liquid or hydration. This imbalance causes tiny crystals to aggregate and form hard masses, or calculi (stones), in the upper urinary tract. Because renal calculi typically form in the kidney, if small enough they may pass out of the urinary tract through the urine stream. A small calculus may pass without causing any symptoms. However, if a stone grows to