As urologists, our doctors use a lot of different tools and procedures to diagnose and treat urologic conditions and cancers. Because many issues are internal, cystoscopy is a common procedure used to avoid having to create a hole for looking inside the body. With a cystoscopy, the doctor can look inside the bladder and urethra using a thin instrument with a light inserted through the urethra.
Cystoscopy for Diagnosis and Minor Procedures
Cystoscopy allows the doctor to look at areas of your bladder and urethra that usually do not show up well on X-rays. Besides having a light that allows the doctor to see the inside of your urinary tract and organs, tiny surgical instruments can be inserted through the cystoscope that allow the doctor to remove stones or stents or take samples of tissue for biopsies. Small bladder stones and some small growths can be removed during cystoscopy. This may eliminate the need for more extensive surgery.
Reasons for Cystoscopy
- Find the cause of blood in the urine, painful urination, urinary incontinence, frequency or hesitancy, an inability to pass urine, or a sudden need to urinate
- Find the cause of problems of the urinary tract, such as frequent or persistent UTIs
- Look for blockage in the urethra caused by an enlarged prostate, urethral strictures, kidney stones, or tumors
- Evaluate problems that cannot be seen on X-ray or investigate problems detected by ultrasound or CT scans, (kidney stones or tumors)
- Remove foreign objects or tissue samples for biopsy
- Place ureteral catheters (stents) to help urine flow, or for an X-ray test called retrograde pyelography
- Treat urinary tract problems – remove stones or growths, treat bleeding in the bladder, relieve blockages in the urethra, or treat or remove tumors
Symptoms Following a Cystoscopy
Cystoscopy is a safe and effective option for doctors to correctly diagnose patients without having to perform surgery. There are very few risks associated with cystoscopies. If general anesthesia is used, there are the usual risks associated with that. Temporary burning during urination, minor bleeding or swelling of the urethra, and infection of the urinary tract can occur. There is no risk of loss of sexual function. A rare complication is injury to the urethra or bladder by one of the instruments, which requires surgery to repair. A cystoscopy is much less invasive than surgery.
From robotic surgery to cutting-edge treatments, we take pride in being the first to bring the forefront of medicine to the Midwest. The urologists at Kansas City Urology and Oncology use the latest and best treatments and tools to diagnose and treat urologic conditions and cancer.
If you’d like to learn more about cutting-edge treatment options for any urologic condition, contact one of the 23 KCUC Urology and Oncology locations throughout Kansas and Missouri and schedule an appointment to speak with a urologist. At KCUC, you see the best in KC.