Lithotripsy may be an alternative to surgery. Ultrasonic waves or shock waves are used to break up stones so that they may be expelled in the urine (extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy) or removed with an endoscope that is inserted into the kidney via a small flank incision (percutaneous nephrolithotomy).

Renal calculi; Kidney stones; Stones - kidney 
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Nephrolithiasis is a condition in which one or more stones are present in the pelvis or calyces of the kidney or in the ureter. (See also cystinuria.)