Largest-ever kidney stone dissolved to completion with medical therapy
November 14, 2026
VADODARA: Kidney stones are hard masses of minerals and salts that form in the kidneys when urine contains high levels of certain chemicals and not enough water.
VADODARA: Kidney stones are hard masses of minerals and salts that form in the kidneys when urine contains high levels of certain chemicals and not enough water. A staghorn calculus is a large, branching kidney stone that grows into the renal pelvis and calyces of the kidney. Staghorn stones are typically managed surgically due to their size, complexity, and infection risk. Most staghorn stones are struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate), which are heavily linked to recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by urease-producing bacteria. Uric Acid stones are an exception. Prior reports of medical dissolution have been limited to small stones (< 20 mm), but a recent case report described the successful clearance of large uric acid staghorn stones with medical therapy.
The case report was published in the Indian Journal of Urology by Thummar et al.: "Oral Chemolysis of Bilateral Uric Acid Staghorns". The study was published by three researchers: Dr Haresh Thummar, Dr Veda Malhotra, and Dr Mantu Gupta. The study mentioned that uric acid stones are distinct because they are potentially amenable to medical dissolution therapy with urine alkalinization and uric acid reduction. The case reports a biggest bilateral staghorn stone of more than 40 mm without surgery complete clearance, which is a largest stone dissolve in medical history till now according to available literature. It is a remarkable case highlighting the potential of medical dissolution therapy in carefully selected kidney stone patients with uric acid stones.
Dr Haresh G Thummar is a Senior Consultant in Urology and Kidney Transplant at Zydus Hospital, Vadodara, Gujarat. He has done a Master of Surgery from Baroda Medical College with a prestigious Gold Medal and DNB Urology from the renowned Muljibhai Patel Urological Hospital (MPUH), Nadiad. He has done his advanced Endourology fellowship at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Health System, New York, USA, and at Cleveland Clinic USA, AIIMS New Delhi and PGI Chandigarh.
Source: https://news.docthub.com/largest-ever-kidney-stone-dissolved-to-completion-with-medical-therapy-N2711