The Crystalline Composition of Prostatic Calculi

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Abstract
Summary: The composition of 28 prostatic calculi has been determined by X‐ray diffraction. 14 stonesconsisted entirely of 1 or more of the following calcium phosphates‐carbonate‐apatite, hydroxy‐apatite and whitlockite. Most of these are likely to be true or endogenous prostatic calculi formed from the prostatic fluid. The other 14 stones contained compounds which can precipitate from urine but are unlikely to precipitate from the prostatic secretion. These are the exogenous type forming at least in part from urine. Whittockite which was found to be a major constituent of the true stones has been identified in them for the first time. Its discovery shows that salivary and prostatic calculi are similar in composition in that they consist of apatite or apatite + whitlockite.This work was financed by the Medical Research Council.