Kidney, Bladder, Prostate & Testicular Ultrasound
Ultrasound uses a hand-held device, called a transducer, that bounces safe, painless sound waves off organs to create an image of their structure. The health care professional can move the transducer at different angles to examine different organs.
This procedure is painless, poses no risk of radiation, needs no anaesthesia, and allows you to return to daily tasks immediately.
A kidney ultrasound may be used to assess the size, location, and shape of the kidneys and related structures, such as the ureters and bladder. Ultrasound can detect cysts, tumours, abscesses, obstructions, fluid collection, and infection within or around the kidneys. Calculi (stones) of the kidneys and ureters may be detected by ultrasound.
Bladder Ultrasound indications:
- To assess for urinary retention.
- Suspected voiding dysfunction.
- Recurrent urinary tract infection.
- Recurrent haematuria (blood in the urine)
- To monitor residual urine in patients with neurological conditions.
Prostate ultrasound indications:
- an abnormal digital rectal examination,
- biopsy guidance
- evaluation of the patient with known prostate cancer
- follow-up of patients with prostate cancer
- certain cases of infertility
- prostatic inflammation
- voiding studies
- evaluation of prostate in selected patients without previously suspected pathology
- abnormal PSA blood test result
How to prepare for an abdominal ultrasound
The patient is required to fast for at least 6 hours before the scan is carried out. Only water and essential medication can be taken in this time period.
Testicular Ultrasound indications:
The development of testicular tumours or hydrocele is one of the oldest indications for scrotal ultrasound. However, the number of indications has increased significantly as a result of technological advances in ultrasonography as well as its growing popularity. These indications depend on patient’s age, the clinical picture and medical history. Determining the presence of testes in the case of cryptorchidism is the main indication for ultrasound in new-borns and infants. Testicular pain, suspected orchitis and epididymitis, testicular and epididymal asymmetry, as well as trauma, pedicle torsion or endocrine disorders, such as precocious puberty, gynecomastia or feminization and abnormal laboratory and tumour marker findings, e.g., alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG), are indications for scrotal ultrasound in older children. Indications for scrotal ultrasound in adult men include abnormal testicular consistency, suspected testicular tumours, scrotal or inguinal hernia, hydrocele, spermatic cord hydrocele, as well as extraperitoneal and inguinal lymphadenopathy, hematospermia and reproductive failure.
In DF Medical Centre the kidney, bladder, prostate and testicular ultrasounds are performed by our Urology Consultant at the same time as your consultation, after your medical history is taken and an examination done. A battery of blood tests is usually taken in the next few days in our clinic so diagnostic and management of your condition can be decided within a week or two.
The follow up is done by the same Consultant, with no need for GP referrals and with a short waiting time.
We do not offer ultrasounds as a lone procedure performed by a technician/ultra-sonographer but a letter to your GP can be sent on your request with the consultation/ultrasound findings and further management required.
