Crystal size in <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mi>μ</mml:mi> </mml:math> crystalline pathologies and its clinical implication
Dominique Bazin, Vincent Frochot, Jean‐Philippe Haymann, Emmanuel Letavernier, Michel Daudon
Abstract
Chemical composition is not the only information establishing a significant link between kidney stones and the pathology which induces urolithiasis. Structural parameters such as morphology and crystal and crystallite size are also of primary importance. In this contribution, we would like to assess the relationship of crystal size of different chemical phases with the pathology underlying such calcifications. Based on literature as well as on some of our measurements, we will appreciate the value of this structural parameter for different crystalline species in various clinical or biological conditions and in helping the clinician, especially to understand why bacterial imprints in infection-related stones are only visible in calcium phosphate apatite deposits.