• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Bladder stones

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Definition:

Bladder stones are hard buildups of mineral that form in the urinary bladder.

Alternative Names:

Stones - bladder; Urinary tract stones; Bladder calculi

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Bladder stones are usually the result of another urologic problem such as urinary tract infection , bladder diverticulum, neurogenic bladder , or an enlarged prostate . Approximately 95% of all bladder stones occur in men. Stones originating in the bladder are much less common than kidney stones .

Bladder stones may occur when urine in the bladder is concentrated and materials crystallize. The patient feels symptoms when the lining of the bladder is irritated by the stone or when the stone obstructs the flow of urine from the bladder.

• Review Date: 6/13/2006
• Reviewed By: Neil D. Sherman, MD, Urologist, Essex County, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.