Evaluation of microscopic hematuria: a critical review and proposed algorithm

Microscopic hematuria (MH), often discovered incidentally, has many causes, including benign processes, kidney disease, and genitourinary malignancy. The clinician, therefore, must decide how intensively to investigate the source of MH and select which tests to order and referrals to make, aiming not to overlook serious conditions while simultaneously avoiding unnecessary tests. Existing professional guidelines for the evaluation of MH are largely based on expert opinion and have weak evidence bases. Existing data demonstrate associations between isolated MH and various diseases in certain populations, and these associations serve as the basis for our proposed approach to the evaluation of MH. Various areas of ongoing uncertainty regarding the appropriate evaluation should be the basis for ongoing research.