Urinary system CT Scan procedure and things to note

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Thuc Vy - Doctor of Diagnostic Imaging - Department of Diagnostic Imaging - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.

1. Meaning when taking CT Scanner of the urinary system

CT scan of the urinary system (computed tomography of the urinary system) is an imaging test used to evaluate the urinary tract including the kidneys, bladder, and tubes (ureters) that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
A CT scan of the urinary system uses X-rays to create multiple images of a single slice of an area inside the body including bones, soft tissues, and blood vessels. These images are then sent to a computer and quickly broken down into detailed two-dimensional images.
CT scan of the urinary system is very meaningful to doctors when diagnosing and treating diseases related to the urinary system. Specifically:
● Using a non-invasive method, the doctor can still observe the anatomy of the urinary system as well as observe the images of other organs in the abdomen.
● This method helps to measure density and helps to distinguish substances such as fluid, blood, calcification, fat, ...
● The results of the method give detailed images of body-axis sections from the kidney. to the prostate.
● 2D and 3D images can observe in detail the parenchyma, renal calyces, excretory lines, ureters, prostate as well as bladder.
● The method also uses dyes, especially contrast dyes, to help distinguish the structures of the urinary system and clearly study the renal blood vessels, check the damage to the blood vessels.

2. When to have a CT Scan of the urinary system?

Computed tomography of the urinary system is used to examine the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. It allows the doctor to see the size and shape of the structure to determine if the urinary system is functioning properly and can look for any signs of disease if the urinary system is affected.
The doctor will recommend a CT scan of the urinary system when there are signs such as:
● Pain in the flank or back pain
● Hematuria (blood appears in the urine) - related to urinary disorders
Kidney stones ; bladder stones ; or ureteral stones
● Urinary tract infection, or pyelonephritis, cystitis
Tumor or cyst, prostate tumor, urinary system tumor
Cancer of the urinary system
● Structural abnormalities Structural problems, such as urinary system abnormalities
Disease of the seminal vesicles or prostate gland
Acute or chronic ureteral obstruction with unknown cause
Disease of the pelvic region
● Basis for identification staging of renal tumours.

3. How is the CT Scanner of the urinary system performed?

Procedure for CT scan of urinary system includes steps:
● Prepare patient. The patient is kept in a supine position, with both arms raised above the head (to avoid image disturbance). The patient will likely be asked to: Take off some or all of her clothing and wear a hospital gown; remove metal objects (such as belts, jewelry, dentures, eyeglasses, as these may affect the final result); avoid eating or drinking for several hours before; use of contrast agents.
● The technician will instruct the patient on how to hold his or her breath to avoid creating cell noise that may interfere with the image.
● CT scan of urinary system before and after intravenous contrast injection.
● Evaluation of the results of the entire soft tissue, bone and fat.
The results of CT scan of the urinary system include:
● Take the layers before contrast injection. This step is to determine the location of the lesion and to assess whether the lesion contains fat, calcification or bleeding. Besides, it also helps the doctor to compare the status of lesions after the injection for the purpose of assessing the extent of the enhancement more or less of the lesion.
Arterial tomography: The aim is to assess the extent of the lesion, the extent of drug leakage if bleeding is present, or the early venous drainage in patients with arteriovenous malformations. or venous...
Venous tomography: The aim is to assess whether tumor lesions, rapid or slow drug clearance, and drug retention on both sides of the renal and inferior vena cava in patients with renal tumors, or visible lesions in the abdomen ...
Late CT scan: Usually applied to patients with pyelonephritis, ureteral stones or inflammation.

4. Things to note before having a CT Scan of the urinary system

CT scan of the urinary system has a risk of mild allergic reactions if contrast is injected, such as nausea, burning sensation, itching, pain near the injection site... Besides, radiation exposure in one Time can also cause cancer risk. Or women who are pregnant or may become pregnant if exposed to radiation will put the baby at risk of birth defects.
Some things to note before having a CT scan of the urinary system:
● People with a history of allergic reactions to contrast or other drugs.
● Pregnant women should consider and discuss with their doctor to find a reasonable method. as well as the doctor's backup.
● Before the procedure, the patient needs to fast from solid substances, should only use fruit juice or milk with an amount of not more than 100ml.
CT scan of the urinary system (computed tomography of the urinary system) is an imaging test used to evaluate the urinary tract and detect diseases related to the urinary system for timely examination and treatment. provide a treatment plan to ensure the health of the patient.
Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the general hospitals equipped with modern machinery systems with CT, X-ray, MRI machines,... Accordingly, a team of rich doctors and nurses. expertise, experience, ability to perform CT scan techniques to diagnose urinary tract diseases as well as many other diseases in the best way.
For advice and answers to all questions related to the CT scan to diagnose urinary tract diseases as well as the medical examination and treatment process at Vinmec, please come directly to Vinmec Health System or register for a medical examination. online HERE.
References: mayoclinic.org, cancerresearchuk.org