How Big Does a Kidney Stone Get?

Kidney stones are one of the most common disorders of the urinary tract responsible for upwards of 3 million visits to hospitals and clinics yearly, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Depending on the type of stone, kidney stones vary in size and shape.

Identification

• A kidney stone is a solid piece of material that forms in a kidney out of substances in the urine, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse.

Types

• Of the four types of kidney stones, calcium stones with oxalate or phosphate are the most common. Stones caused by urinary tract infections are called infection or struvite stones, and are made up of mineral magnesium and ammonia. Uric acid stones result from too much acid in the urine and occur less frequently. On rare occasions, cystine stones may form in the kidneys.

Features

• Kidney stones typically have a brown or yellow color and range in texture from smooth to jagged.

Size

• According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, typical kidney stones range in size from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a pearl. However, in some cases, stones may be as large as a golf ball.

Symptoms

• Signs of a possible kidney stone include persistent extreme pain in your back or side, blood in your urine, fever and chills, vomiting, cloudy urine and burning during urination, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse.

  Kidney stones may increase in size if left untreated.