This ancient health problem has tormented people throughout history. Scientists have even found evidence of kidney stones in an Egyptian mummy estimated to be more than 7,000 years old. Kidney stones are one of the most common disorders of the urinary tract. More than 1 million cases of kidney stones were diagnosed in 1985. It is estimated that 10 percent of all people in the United States will have a kidney stone at some point in time.
Men tend to be affected more frequently than women.
Most kidney stones pass out of the body without any intervention by a physician. Cases that cause lasting symptoms or other complications may be treated by various techniques, most of which do not involve major surgery. Research advances also have led to a better understanding of the many factors that promote stone formation. The urinary tract, or system, consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located below the ribs toward the middle of the back.