Doctors at Kumasi Hospital, a private health facility in the Ashanti Region, have successfully removed an unusually large bladder stone weighing 880 grammes from a 49 year old man after nearly three decades of pain and urinary complications.
The surgical team believes the case could rank among the largest bladder stones ever removed in Africa, although the claim has yet to be independently confirmed.
The stone measures 11.8 centimetres in length, 9.5 centimetres in breadth and almost 8 centimetres in width. Its unusual size and oval shape make it resemble a ball of clay.
The patient, identified only as Akoto to protect his identity, reportedly endured years of discomfort, difficulty passing urine and a steady deterioration in his quality of life as the stone grew inside his bladder.
Recalling the ordeal, he said: “It was really painful. Not being able to urinate is something I wouldn’t wish for anyone.”
What may have started as small mineral deposits gradually hardened and expanded over the years, eventually developing into a massive formation that affected several aspects of his life.
Speaking to Luv FM’s Emmanuel Bright Quaicoe, Kumasi Hospital Chief Executive Officer, Dr (Med) Samuel Koranteng Asante, said the medical team had searched available literature but found no documented case in Africa involving the removal of a bladder stone of comparable size.
“We searched medical literature from the continent, but we couldn’t find any documented and removed bladder stone as big as this one. It was originally 980 grammes. But even after desiccating for over a day, the size is still the largest,” he said.
According to Guinness World Records, the largest bladder stone previously recorded was removed in Brazil in 2003. It weighed 1.9 kilogrammes (4.2 pounds) and measured 17.9 centimetres (7 inches) in length.
Another extraordinary case was reported in Sri Lanka in August 2026, when doctors removed a bladder stone weighing 3.1 kilogrammes from a 55-year-old man.
How bladder stones develop
Bladder stones are hard mineral deposits that form when urine remains in the bladder for an extended period, allowing dissolved minerals to concentrate, crystallise and gradually harden.
Dr Asante explained that conditions affecting the normal flow of urine can increase the risk of developing the stones.
“When one has prostate enlargement and urine consistently stays in the bladder, it can bring about bladder stones. But with this one, we realised there was a stricture in his ureter, which usually comes about when one has a urinary infection such as an STI, and it is not treated well, that can also contribute to bladder stones,” he noted.
While smaller stones may sometimes pass out of the body naturally, larger formations can block the flow of urine and require medical treatment. Stones exceeding one centimetre may cause significant complications, while those measuring more than four centimetres are generally classified as giant bladder stones.
Years of suffering affect his quality of life
Akoto’s condition affected more than his physical health. The prolonged illness reportedly disrupted his social activities, weakened his general well-being and interfered with his sexual life.
His experience underscores the need for people to take persistent urinary symptoms seriously and seek professional medical care rather than allowing potentially treatable conditions to worsen.
Medical experts stress that early detection and proper management of urinary tract problems can help prevent bladder stones from developing into exceptionally large formations.
Dr Asante also encouraged the public to drink sufficient water, explaining that adequate hydration helps dilute urine and may reduce the concentration of minerals that contribute to stone formation.
“Drink a lot of water. When you drink water, the urine becomes diluted. This means it will be difficult for the salt to crystallise and form a stone,” he advised.
For Akoto, the successful operation brings an end to years of distress and discomfort. His case also highlights the importance of seeking medical attention for persistent abdominal pain, difficulty urinating and other unusual changes in urinary habits.
By: Prince Martey-Sogar.