Notched corners are a description of which crystal?

Notched corners are a description of which crystal?

• A. Cholesterol
• B. Leucine
• C. Calcium oxalate
• D. Bilirubin

Answer: (A)

Notched corners describe a distinctive morphology of cholesterol crystals in urine. These crystals appear as large, plate-like, rectangular shapes with small notches at the corners, a feature that helps differentiate them from other common urinary crystals. Cholesterol crystals are classically associated with nephrotic-range proteinuria and hyperlipidemia, so recognizing this morphology supports the interpretation that cholesterol is the solute forming the crystals. Other crystals have different shapes—calcium oxalate tend to be envelope- or dumbbell-shaped, leucine crystals often form radiating, sheaf-like patterns, and bilirubin crystals appear as fine needles—so the notched-corner description most closely points to cholesterol.

Notched corners describe a distinctive morphology of cholesterol crystals in urine. These crystals appear as large, plate-like, rectangular shapes with small notches at the corners, a feature that helps differentiate them from other common urinary crystals. Cholesterol crystals are classically associated with nephrotic-range proteinuria and hyperlipidemia, so recognizing this morphology supports the interpretation that cholesterol is the solute forming the crystals. Other crystals have different shapes—calcium oxalate tend to be envelope- or dumbbell-shaped, leucine crystals often form radiating, sheaf-like patterns, and bilirubin crystals appear as fine needles—so the notched-corner description most closely points to cholesterol.