Which kidney stone type is radiopaque?

Calcium stones are radiopaque, meaning they can be seen on X-rays. The main types of calcium stones are calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate, both of which are capable of being detected on imaging studies due to their mineral content. This property is linked to the high atomic number of calcium, making these stones dense enough to absorb X-rays.

In comparison, uric acid stones are radiolucent, which means they do not show up well on X-ray imaging. Cystine stones, while sometimes partially radiopaque, are generally less visible than calcium stones. Struvite stones, which are associated with urinary infections usually caused by urea-splitting bacteria, are also radiopaque due to their composition containing magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate, but the question specifically asks for the type that is typically most recognized as radiopaque. Therefore, calcium stones are most classically associated with being visible on radiographs.