() — The world’s largest kidney stone was extracted from a patient in Sri Lanka, and is the size of a grapefruit, as long as a banana and as heavy as four hamsters.
At 13.4 centimeters long and weighing 801 grams, the kidney stone broke two world records when Sri Lankan army medics removed it on June 1.
Previously, the records were 13 centimeters in length, set in India in 2004, and 620 grams in weight, set in Pakistan in 2008, according to Guinness World Records.
The world’s largest kidney stone on display in Sri Lanka. (Credit: Sri Lanka Army)
Guinness World Records confirmed that both records were broken by the stone removed from the Sri Lankan patient, in an operation carried out at the Colombo Army Hospital.
Kidney stones consist of solid pieces of material that crystallize in the kidney, ureters, or bladder due to genetic and environmental factors.
They are relatively common, affecting around 10% of people at some point in their lives, and some studies suggest they may become even more common.
Most types can be prevented by staying hydrated and reducing sodium intake. According to the Mayo Clinic, drinking up to 2.8 liters of water per day can help flush out small stones, less than 3 millimeters (0.3 centimeters) in diameter, by flushing out the urinary system.
However, the process is notoriously painful.
Stones larger than 3 millimeters in diameter often require more extensive treatment, such as surgery, to remove. Such treatments include the use of sound waves to break up the stones or surgery through a small incision in the lower back.
A 2018 study suggested that the prevalence of kidney stones is increasing among men and women in the United States.
To confirm a diagnosis of kidney stones, doctors may use imaging techniques, such as ultrasound or CT scan. An increase in the general use of CT scans in the past 30 years, which are more likely to detect stones, may be partly responsible for the increased rate of kidney stone diagnoses, experts say.
