Which condition might present with urine analysis revealing red blood cells (RBC) as a clue?

The presence of red blood cells (RBCs) in a urine analysis often indicates that there is some form of bleeding occurring within the urinary tract. In the case of kidney stones, this bleeding can occur due to the stones causing irritation, injury, or obstruction as they move through the urinary system. When kidney stones are present, they can scratch the lining of the urinary tract, leading to hematuria (the medical term for blood in urine), which would manifest as the detection of RBCs in the urine analysis.

In contrast, while conditions like urinary tract infections (UTIs) can also cause hematuria, they typically present with different primary symptoms, such as burning during urination and increased frequency of urination. Diverticulitis primarily affects the gastrointestinal system and usually wouldn’t cause RBCs to appear in urine. Pancreatitis, being a condition affecting the pancreas, is unlikely to result in RBCs in the urine as it would not typically cause bleeding in the urinary tract. Thus, the association of kidney stones with RBCs in urine analysis makes this the most relevant condition in this context.