title: The influence of internal stone structure upon the fracture behaviour of urinary calculi.
abstract: In vitro extracoporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) on different types of urinary calculi, in combination with microfocus x-ray and microphotography, illustrates the importance of the internal stone structure. Calculi with a rough surface layered structure (calcium oxalate monohydrate) and untextured calculi (cystine) are characterized by a low stone fragility, whereas coarse-grain calculi (calcium oxalate dihydrate, struvite), and calculi with a smooth surface layered structure (uric acid), are very fragile. Shell-like fragmentation in layered calculi, with smooth surface of the crystalline laminations, suggests that the stone matrix influenced the propagation of the shock wave energy inside the stone.
authors.affiliation: Catholic University Leuven, Department of Didactical Physics, Belgium.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pittomvils
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vandeursen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wevers
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lafaut
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Ridder
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Meester
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boving
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baert
mesh_terms: D002129:Calcium Oxalate / Q000032:analysis; D003460:Crystallization; D003553:Cystine / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy; D017616:Magnesium Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D008852:Microradiography; D010710:Phosphates / Q000032:analysis; D000069877:Struvite; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000032:analysis; D014545:Urinary Calculi / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D017616:Magnesium Compounds; D010710:Phosphates; D002129:Calcium Oxalate; D014527:Uric Acid; D003553:Cystine; D000069877:Struvite