DEFINITION
Nephroliths—uroliths (i.e., polycrystalline concretions or calculi) located in the renal pelvis or collecting diverticula of the kidney
Nephroliths or nephrolith fragments may pass into the ureters (ureteroliths).
Nephroliths that are not infected, not causing obstruction or clinical signs, and not progressively enlarging are termed inactive.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Nephroliths can obstruct the renal pelvis or ureter, predispose to pyelonephritis, and result in compressive injury of the renal parenchyma leading to renal failure; see chapters on the different urolith types for pathophysiology of urolithiasis; in cats, nephroliths composed of blood clots mineralized with calcium phosphate can form secondarily to chronic renal hematuria.
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