The evaluation and treatment of prolonged hematuria in adolescents

The causes of hematuria in children have not changed significantly during the past several decades. However, recent advances in endoscopic technology have allowed the pediatric urologist greater ability to evaluate and treat the child's source of hematuria. Close cooperation between urologist, nephrologist, and pediatrician should ensure that evaluation and management of these children is done in an efficient and definitive manner. Herein is reported the presentation and evaluation of an adolescent girl whose history is similar to other adolescents who have presented to our urologic department with a long history of painless, gross hematuria. We suggest that patients whose clinical presentation is similar to this child's be evaluated with renal and bladder ultrasound, intravenous urography, and when necessary, cystoscopy and ureteroscopy for treatment of their hematuria.