Haematuria: classification, causes and investigations

The majority of patients who attend haematuria clinics for investigation of blood in their urine will be found to have either no cause or a benign cause. Between 20% and 25% of people with visible blood in their urine and 5-10% of people with non-visible blood in their urine will be diagnosed with a urological malignancy, i.e. bladder, kidney or prostate cancer. Haematuria is therefore a significant symptom that should be investigated promptly and thoroughly to exclude cancer as quickly as possible. This article gives an overview of the causes of haematuria and the investigations that patients will undergo when referred to a haematuria clinic.