Micro-computed tomographic imaging (micro-CT) provides unprecedented information on stone structure and mineral composition.
High-resolution micro-CT even allows visualization of the lumens of tubule and/or vessels within Randall's plaque, on stones or in papillary biopsies, thus giving a non-destructive way to study these sites of stone adhesion. This paper also shows an example of a stone growing on a different anchoring mechanism: a mineral plug within the lumen of a Bellini duct (BD plug). Micro-CT shows striking structural differences between stones that have grown on Randall's plaque and those that have grown on BD plugs. Thus, Randall's plaque can be distinguished by micro-CT, and this non-destructive method shows great promise in helping to elucidate the different mechanisms by which small stones are retained in the kidney during the development of nephrolithiasis.
Written by:
Williams JC Jr, Lingeman JE, Coe FL, Worcester EM, Evan AP. Are you the author?
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive MS 5055Y, Indianapolis, IN, 46202-5120, USA.
Reference: Urolithiasis. 2014 Aug 6. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1007/s00240-014-0702-z
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 25096802
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