American Journal of Roentgenology, Vol 135, Issue 3, 565-567
Copyright © 1980 by American Roentgen Ray Society
Cystine calculi are radiopaque
RC Brown,
SA Loening,
JC Ehrhardt,
and
CE Hawtrey
Cystine calculi are said to be either radiolucent or radiopaque. In the past, contamination of the calculi with calcium has been given as the reason for a radiopaque appearance. However, most cystine stones are pure cystine and contain essentially no calcium. When compared to adjacent fluids and tissues, they are radiopaque because of their higher physical density and their higher effective atomic number.