Is a 9-mm kidney stone serious?
Disease description:
I recently went to the hospital for a checkup, and the doctor informed me that I have a 9-mm kidney stone. Is a 9-mm stone considered serious?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Li Mingchuan
A 9-mm stone is relatively large and serious. Stones larger than 6 mm typically cannot pass spontaneously, and medical therapy is generally ineffective. Given its size (9 mm), treatment usually requires hospital-based interventions such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) or ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy to fragment and remove the stone. If left untreated for an extended period, it may lead to hydronephrosis and impaired renal function. We recommend promptly visiting a hospital for evaluation to determine the most appropriate lithotripsy method.
