Title: ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF URINARY TRACT CALCULI USING AN ELECTRON MICROSCOPE WITH ELECTRON PROBE X-RAY MICROANALYZER
Abstract: The simultaneous elemental analysis and observation of small surface areas and nuclei of urinary tract calculi was attempted with a conventional transmission electron microscope. This microscope was fitted with a scanning device, side-entry goniometer stage and an energy dispersive type X-ray microanalyzer unit coupled to a computer system. This method is advantageous in that in addition to quantitative analysis, a clear electron image may be observed.Apatite, whewellite and cystine calculi derived from five patients as determined by X-ray diffraction, were studied.In three samples of apatite calculus, calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) were detected, while magnesium (Mg) was observed in one case.In one sample of whewellite calculus, P as well as Ca was detected in the nucleus.In one sample of cystine calculus, Ca and P were detected in addition to sulfur (S).These results indicate that the crystal structure of calculi does not always consist of a single substance.