ELEMENTAL MAPPING ANALYSIS OF RECURRENT CALCIUM-OXALATE HUMAN KIDNEY-STONES

Elemental maps from a series of recurrent calcium oxalate kidney stone s were obtained by PIXE with 3 MeV protons, using the nuclear micropro be at Faure. Trace elemental patterns in the stones were identified. G ood positive correlations between Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn and Sr relative to Ca were identified. These correlations showed two types of distributions which could be attributed to the COM or COD phase-matrix framework. S ome trace elements such as As, Se, Br and Pb were distributed homogene ously in the scanned micro-regions and possibly deposited as single io n-entities in the mixed stone matrix. It is concluded that micro-PIXE can provide useful data for deducing the mechanisms by which kidney st ones are induced and how they grow.