[Diagnosis and urologic development of urinary lithiasis. Revealing manifestations, radiologic diagnosis, course...

The presence and migration of stones in the urinary tract are the consequences of lithiasis, a pathological process whose evolutive potential determines the frequency of recurrence. The stones produce haematuria and above all obstruction which manifests itself by pain and may be complicated by infection. The most suggestive type of pain is renal colic, but other revealing manifestations may occur. Such signs require radiological exploration with plain X-ray of the abdomen, renal ultrasonography and intravenous urography. These three indispensable examinations complete each other, provide the diagnosis and in the vast majority of cases point to the appropriate treatment. The haemodynamic repercussions of urinary tract obstruction have been thoroughly documented and now form the basis of treatment of renal colic with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Obstruction and infection are the causes of all complications of urinary stones. Their management has been facilitated by recent advances in urology and should prevent the disease from destroying the kidneys and eventually causing chronic renal insufficiency.