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Point-of-Care Kidney and Genitourinary Ultrasound in Adults: Image Acquisition
Published on: June 21, 2024
Imaging of hematuria
Owen J O'Connor1, Sean E McSweeney, Michael M Maher
1Department of Radiology, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork, Ireland.
Radiologic Clinics of North America
|March 11, 2008
Summary
Hematuria, or blood in urine, can stem from various urinary tract issues. This review details imaging techniques, especially multidetector computed tomography urography, for diagnosing these causes.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Hematuria is a common clinical sign with diverse etiologies, including infections, stones, neoplasms, trauma, and parenchymal diseases.
- Accurate diagnosis of the underlying cause of hematuria is crucial for appropriate patient management.
- Various imaging modalities are employed in the evaluation of patients with suspected urologic causes of hematuria.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current status and role of different imaging modalities in evaluating patients with hematuria.
- To highlight the utility and controversies surrounding multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) urography in hematuria assessment.
- To discuss key considerations such as protocol optimization, urothelial imaging accuracy, and radiation dose in MDCT urography.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive review of existing literature on imaging techniques for hematuria.
- Discussion of the diagnostic performance of plain radiography, intravenous urography, retrograde pyelography, ultrasonography, and MDCT.
- Focus on the technical aspects and clinical application of MDCT urography.
Main Results:
- MDCT urography is emerging as a significant tool in the evaluation of hematuria, offering comprehensive visualization of the urinary tract.
- The article examines the effectiveness of various imaging modalities in detecting common causes of hematuria.
- Controversial aspects of MDCT urography, including protocol variations and accuracy in detecting urothelial lesions, are addressed.
Conclusions:
- MDCT urography represents a valuable advancement in the imaging of hematuria, though its optimal application requires careful consideration.
- The choice of imaging modality should be guided by the suspected etiology and clinical context.
- Further research and standardization are needed to optimize MDCT urography protocols and address concerns regarding radiation exposure.
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