Urinary tract ultrasound


Ultrasound of the urinary tract involves the use of an ultrasound probe to image parts of the urinary tract. The urinary tract is the path that urine follows after it is formed within the kidneys, and involves a left and right ureter, the bladder, and the urethra.

Procedure

involves a probe that is placed near a structure and uses the transmission of ultrasound waves through a structure to produce images, after computer processing. Ultrasound of the urinary tract is performed by a probe placed on the abdominal wall, called a transducer. This occurs while a person is lying down. It is then moved around to better visualise different parts of the urinary tract. Gel is used on the abdominal wall, allowing smooth movement and improve sound conduction. The images are usually taken by a trained ultrasonographer, and then reported by a specialist radiologist.
Prior to the test, a medical practitioner will have conducted a medical history to evaluate for symptoms that may relate to the urinary tract. A person is asked to drink fluids, and not to pass urine. During the test, a person will be asked to pass urine and the amount of urine left in the bladder may be recorded.

Uses

For imaging of the urinary tract it may involve:
The symptoms that a person may experience that cause the test to be requested may be blood in the urine, abdominal pain, abdominal kidney function tests, and frequent urinary tract infections.

Risks

Ultrasound is non-invasive and does not involve radiation, unlike some methods of imaging of the urinary tract such as X-rays or CT scans. It is usually painless. It is safe in pregnancy. Risks specific to the scan involve:
Abdominal obesity, gas within the colon, and barium within the intestines can all impact the accuracy of the test.

Other tests

Other tests are available to image the urinary tract. These include X-rays, CT scans or MRI scans.