Urinary tract stones

Definition

These are the Rolling Stones who are not the same as Renal Stones. Both are medically interesting. The former is unlikely to come up in your exams. (Unless you're studying The Rolling Stones).

Stone in the urinary tract. Anywhere. Even the willy.

Epidemiology

Has a prevalence of 3% in the UK but a staggering, a shocking, a mind-blowing like you just found your Mum is a real life Jack Bauer, 12% in the USA. I'm probably labouring the point a bit. M:F, 2.5:1 and has a bi-modal peak distribution with peaks at mid-20s and mid-50s though the later peak is mostly due to infections in women. 40% pass spontaneously though incidence of upper tract stones is increasing. Upper tract is more common in the developed world. 80% are unilateral.

Awesome.