IDENTIFICATION OF CRYSTALLINE COMPONENT IN URINARY CALCULI BY SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND PARTIAL DISSOLUTION METHOD

Abstract

Characteristic appearances of various stone forming crystals treated with the partial dissolution method (Method 2 of Reference 8) were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Recognition of the characteristic appearances made it possible to identify the crystalline component in the fractured surfaces of mixed calculi. There were ellipsoidal or nodular surfaced calcium oxalate dihydrate calculi which show concentric laminations. Calcium oxalate dihydrate crystals were not necessarily octahedral dipyramids in the interior of these calculi. They had been grown to make the intercrystalline space minimum, and slender crystals were oriented perpendicular to the lamination.