Ultrasound examination of the urinary bladder

Urinary bladder ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging method based on the use of ultrasound waves, which allows assessment of the structure, shape, size and contents of the urinary bladder.

The examination allows assessment of the thickness and appearance of the bladder wall and its contents, as well as identification of changes such as intravesical lesions, stones and other structural abnormalities. When medically indicated, bladder volume can also be assessed before and after urination, including determination of post-void residual urine volume.

Ultrasound can provide useful information when evaluating urinary symptoms and monitoring previously diagnosed conditions over time.

The results are interpreted by the physician taking into account the ultrasound findings, the patient's symptoms, medical history and the results of other investigations.

Indications

• frequent urination;
• difficulty or pain during urination;
• a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying;
• frequent nighttime urination;
• blood in the urine;
• pelvic or suprapubic pain;
• abnormal urine test results;
• suspected recurrent urinary tract infections;
• suspected bladder stones or lesions;
• assessment of urinary retention;
• determination of post-void residual urine volume;
• monitoring of previously diagnosed conditions;
• assessment after certain urological procedures;
• preventive examination as recommended by a physician.

Procedure

The patient is usually positioned lying on their back. The physician applies gel to the lower abdomen and moves the ultrasound transducer over the skin to examine the urinary bladder.

Depending on the purpose of the examination, the bladder may be assessed before and after urination to determine the post-void residual urine volume.

The examination is painless and usually takes approximately 10–20 minutes.

Limitations

The quality of the examination may be affected by the degree of bladder filling, anatomical characteristics and the patient's body habitus.

Ultrasound does not always allow complete characterization of identified abnormalities. Depending on the findings and the clinical suspicion, the physician may recommend additional investigations, such as laboratory tests, cystoscopy, CT or MRI.

Contraindications

Urinary bladder ultrasound has no absolute contraindications. The examination can be performed in children and adults and repeated when necessary, according to medical indications.

In cases of skin lesions or significant pain in the examination area, the procedure may need to be adapted.

Advantages

• non-invasive and painless method;
• does not use ionizing radiation;
• allows real-time assessment of the urinary bladder;
• can detect bladder stones and intravesical lesions;
• allows assessment of the bladder wall;
• can be used to determine post-void residual urine volume;
• can be repeated for dynamic monitoring;
• suitable for patients of different ages.

Sources

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7273879/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092964411060015X
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535381/
https://udshealth.com/bladder-ultrasound/
https://pdf.sciencedirectassets.com/277420/1-s2.0-S0929644110X00042/1-s2.0-S092964411060015X/main.pdf