The EAU recommends:

• to determine the composition of kidney stones in all patientsin whom a stone has been passed or surgically removed,
• to analyze the stone againif stones form again,
• use the analysis results to:
  • adjust the diet,
  • prescribe targeted medical prevention,
  • reduce the risk of kidney stone recurrence.

Important fact:
Without prevention, kidney stones recur in up to 50% of patients within 5–10 years.

Imaging tests (ultrasound, CT) show:

• the stone size,
• the stone its location,
• sometimes—its density.

They do not revealwhat the stone is made of

In contrast, composition analysis determines:

• whether the stone is calcium oxalate,
• uric acid stone,
• infection-related (struvite) stone,
• or rare metabolic disorders.

Each of them has completely different prevention.

Imaging tests (ultrasound, CT) show:

• the stone size,
• the stone its location,
• sometimes—its density.

They do not revealwhat the stone is made of

In contrast, composition analysis determines:

• whether the stone is calcium oxalate,
• uric acid stone,
• infection-related (struvite) stone,
• or rare metabolic disorders.

Each of them has completely different prevention.

The analysis provides answers to the following questions:

• why the stone formed,
• what the risk of recurrence is,
• what specifically needs to be changed:
  • in the diet,
  • fluid intake,
  • medication.

This allows you to move from “general advice” to a precise, personalized plan.

The EAU guidelines particularly recommend analysis for patients who:

• have recurring kidney stones,
• the stone was larger than 5–7 mm,
• surgery was required,
• kidney stones appeared at a young age,
• there is only one functioning kidney,
• there is diabetes, gout, or intestinal disease,
• there is impaired kidney function.

 In practice — for most patients, this analysis is justified and recommended.