What Is This Scan?
A kidney, bladder and prostate ultrasound is a safe, painless examination that uses high-frequency sound waves to assess the urinary tract. It evaluates the kidneys, urinary bladder and, in men, the prostate gland.
At IMPACT Radiology, our examinations are performed using premium ultrasound equipment by experienced sonographers and interpreted by specialist radiologists, providing a comprehensive assessment of urinary tract health without the use of radiation.
Conditions We Commonly Assess
Kidneys
- Kidney stones
- Kidney cysts
- Kidney tumours
- Hydronephrosis (kidney swelling due to obstruction)
- Kidney infection (pyelonephritis)
- Congenital kidney abnormalities
- Kidney size and cortical thinning associated with chronic kidney disease
Urinary Bladder
- Bladder stones
- Bladder tumours
- Bladder wall thickening
- Urinary retention
- Diverticula
- Blood clots or debris
- Assessment of bladder emptying (post-void residual volume)
Prostate (Men)
- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
- Enlarged prostate
- Prostate volume measurement
- Bladder outlet obstruction
- Chronic urinary retention
Why Might My Doctor Request This Scan?
Your doctor may request this examination if you have:
- Blood in the urine (haematuria)
- Flank or kidney pain
- Suspected kidney stones
- Recurrent urinary tract infections
- Difficulty passing urine
- Frequent urination
- Poor urinary stream
- Urinary retention
- Reduced kidney function on blood tests
- Enlarged prostate
- Follow-up of known kidney cysts or stones
- Monitoring of chronic kidney disease
Preparation
A comfortably full bladder is required for most examinations.
Please:
- Drink approximately 750–1000 mL of water one hour before your appointment.
- Do not empty your bladder before the examination unless instructed otherwise.
You may eat normally unless advised differently by your doctor.
During the examination, the sonographer may ask you to empty your bladder so that post-void residual urine can be measured.
What Happens During the Scan?
The examination begins with ultrasound assessment of the urinary bladder (+/- prostate) while your bladder is full. You will then be asked to empty your urinary bladder. You scans will be concluded with assessment of the kidneys.
A warm gel is applied to the skin, and the sonographer gently moves the ultrasound probe over your abdomen and sides to obtain detailed images.
The scan typically takes 20–30 minutes and is painless. Gentle pressure from the probe may occasionally cause mild discomfort if the area is tender.
