VietNamNet Bridge - Ten years ago a man named Mr. Minh discovered a 2.3mm stone in his kidney but he did not have money for treatment. The stone is now as big as an orange.

Surgeons last week removed the giant kidney stone at the main hospital in Soc Trang province in southern Vietnam and Minh returned home last weekend.

The stone weighs 0.4kg.

Minh said 10 years ago Minh went to a local hospital for examination and doctors discovered the kidney stone, which was only 2.3mm at that time.

Minh could not afford an operation so he treated the disease by herbs, at home.

Several weeks ago Minh suffered from severe abdominal and back pain and went to hospital.

Through X-ray scans, doctors discovered the stone in his left kidney as big as an orange.

"We were very surprised to see the stone. This was the first time we have seen such a giant kidney stone," a doctor said.

Le Ha