Radionuclide cystogram

The specific procedure may vary slightly depending on the reason for the test. You will lie down on a scanner table. After cleaning the urinary opening, the health care provider will place a thin, flexible tube, called a catheter, through the urethra and into the bladder. A liquid with radioactive material flows into…

There is no special preparation needed. You will need to sign a consent form. You will be asked to wear a hospital gown. Remove jewelry and metal objects before the scan.

You may feel some discomfort when the catheter is inserted. It may feel difficult or embarrassing to urinate while being observed. You cannot feel the radioisotope or the scanning. After the scan, you may feel slight discomfort for 1 or 2 days when you urinate. The urine may be slightly pink. Call your provider if you…

This test is done to see how your bladder empties and fills. It can be used to check for urine reflux or a blockage in urine flow. It is most often done to evaluate people with urinary tract infections, particularly children.

A normal value is no reflux or other abnormal urine flow, and no obstruction to the flow of urine. The bladder empties completely.

Abnormal results may be due to: Abnormal bladder response to pressure. This could be due to a nerve problem or other disorder. Back flow of urine from the bladder into the ureters (vesicoureteric reflux) Blockage of the urethra ( urethral obstruction ). This is most commonly due to an enlarged prostate gland.

Risks are the same as for x-rays (radiation) and catheterization of the bladder. There is a small amount of radiation exposure with any nuclear scan (it comes from the radioisotope, not the scanner). The exposure is less than with standard x-rays. The radiation is very mild. Nearly all the radiation is gone from your…

Elder JS. Vesicoureteral reflux. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics . 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 554. Khoury AE, Wehbi E. Management strategies for vesicoureteral reflux. In: Partin AW, Domochowski RR, Kavoussi LR, Peters CA,…