BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuVoiding cystourethrogramCystourethrogram - voidingA voiding cystourethrogram is an x-ray study of the bladder and urethra. It is done while the bladder is emptying. x-rayX-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation, just like visible light. An x-ray machine sends individual x-ray waves through the body. The images...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed The test is performed in a hospital radiology department or in a health care provider's office. You will lie on your back on the x-ray table. A thin, flexible tube called a catheter will be inserted into the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body) and passed into the bladder.Contrast dye flows through the catheter into the bladder. This dye helps the bladder show up better on x-ray images.The x-rays are taken from various angles while the bladder is full of contrast dye. The catheter is removed so that you can urinate. Images are taken while you empty your bladder. How to Prepare for the Test You must sign a consent form. You will be given a gown to wear.Remove all jewelry before the test. Inform the provider if you are:Allergic to any medicines Allergic to x-ray contrast material Pregnant How the Test will Feel You may feel some discomfort when the catheter is placed and while your bladder is full. Why the Test is Performed This test may be done to diagnose the cause of urinary tract infections, especially in children who have had more than one urinary tract or bladder infection.It is also used to diagnose and evaluate:Difficulty emptying the bladder Birth defects with the bladder or urethra Narrowing of the tube that carries urine out of the bladder (urethral stricture) in males Urethral strictureUrethral stricture is an abnormal narrowing of the urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries urine out of the body from the bladder.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Urinary reflux from the bladder up into the kidney Normal Results The bladder and urethra will be normal in size and function. What Abnormal Results Mean Abnormal results may indicate the following:Bladder does not empty properly because of a brain or nerve problem (neurogenic bladder) (neurogenic bladder)Neurogenic bladder is a problem in which a person lacks bladder control due to a brain, spinal cord, or nerve condition.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Enlarged prostate gland Enlarged prostate glandThe prostate is a gland that produces some of the fluid that carries sperm during ejaculation. The prostate gland surrounds the urethra, the tube th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Narrowing or scarring of the urethra Pouch-like sacs (diverticula) on the walls of the bladder or urethra Ureterocele UreteroceleA ureterocele is a swelling at the bottom of one of the ureters. Ureters are the tubes that carry urine from the kidney to the bladder. The swollen...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Urinary reflux nephropathyUrinary reflux nephropathyReflux nephropathy is a condition in which the kidneys are damaged by the backward flow of urine into the kidney.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risks You may have some discomfort when urinating after this test because of irritation from the catheter.You may have bladder spasms after this test, which may be a sign of an allergic reaction to the contrast dye. Contact your provider if bothersome bladder spasms occur.Allergic reactionAllergic reactions are sensitivities to substances called allergens that come into contact with the skin, nose, eyes, respiratory tract, and gastroin...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article You may see blood in your urine for a couple of days after this test.Open ReferencesReferencesBellah RD, Tao TY. Pediatric genitourinary radiology. In: Torigian DA, Ramchandani P, eds. Radiology Secrets Plus. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 88.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.Stanasel I, Peters CA. Ectopic ureter, ureterocele, and ureteral anomalies. In: Partin AW, Dmochowski RR, Kavoussi LR, Peters CA, eds. Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 41.AllVideoImagesTogVoiding cystourethrogram - illustration One method of examining bladder function is by injecting dye that is visible on X-rays through a tube (catheter) to fill the bladder. X-rays are taken while the bladder is full and while the patient is urinating (voiding) to determine if fluid is forced out of the bladder through the urethra (normal) or up through the ureters into the kidney (vesicoureteral reflux). This study is usually done with the patient lying on an X-ray table.Voiding cystourethrogramillustrationCystography - illustration Cystography is a detailed study of the bladder, which uses a dye and X-rays. A catheter is inserted into the bladder in which the dye flows. When the bladder is full, the catheter is removed and the X-rays are taken. X-rays are also taken when the bladder is empty. The test is performed to check for the integrity of the bladder, determine the cause of infections and check for tumors or stones.CystographyillustrationVoiding cystourethrogram - illustration One method of examining bladder function is by injecting dye that is visible on X-rays through a tube (catheter) to fill the bladder. X-rays are taken while the bladder is full and while the patient is urinating (voiding) to determine if fluid is forced out of the bladder through the urethra (normal) or up through the ureters into the kidney (vesicoureteral reflux). This study is usually done with the patient lying on an X-ray table.Voiding cystourethrogramillustrationCystography - illustration Cystography is a detailed study of the bladder, which uses a dye and X-rays. A catheter is inserted into the bladder in which the dye flows. When the bladder is full, the catheter is removed and the X-rays are taken. X-rays are also taken when the bladder is empty. The test is performed to check for the integrity of the bladder, determine the cause of infections and check for tumors or stones.Cystographyillustration Tests for Voiding cystourethrogram Voiding cystourethrogramRelated Information X-ray(Medical Test)Urethral stricture(Condition)Ureterocele(Condition)Enlarged prostate(Condition)Reflux nephropathy(Condition)Neurogenic bladder(Condition)Alcoholic neuropathy(Condition)Autonomic neuropathy(Condition)Urge incontinence(Condition)Benign prostatic hyperplasia - InDepth(In-Depth)Urinary incontinence - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 1/1/2023 Reviewed By: Kelly L. Stratton, MD, FACS, Associate Professor, Department of Urology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. 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Voiding cystourethrogramCystourethrogram - voidingA voiding cystourethrogram is an x-ray study of the bladder and urethra. It is done while the bladder is emptying. x-rayX-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation, just like visible light. An x-ray machine sends individual x-ray waves through the body. The images...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How the Test is Performed The test is performed in a hospital radiology department or in a health care provider's office. You will lie on your back on the x-ray table. A thin, flexible tube called a catheter will be inserted into the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body) and passed into the bladder.Contrast dye flows through the catheter into the bladder. This dye helps the bladder show up better on x-ray images.The x-rays are taken from various angles while the bladder is full of contrast dye. The catheter is removed so that you can urinate. Images are taken while you empty your bladder. How to Prepare for the Test You must sign a consent form. You will be given a gown to wear.Remove all jewelry before the test. Inform the provider if you are:Allergic to any medicines Allergic to x-ray contrast material Pregnant How the Test will Feel You may feel some discomfort when the catheter is placed and while your bladder is full. Why the Test is Performed This test may be done to diagnose the cause of urinary tract infections, especially in children who have had more than one urinary tract or bladder infection.It is also used to diagnose and evaluate:Difficulty emptying the bladder Birth defects with the bladder or urethra Narrowing of the tube that carries urine out of the bladder (urethral stricture) in males Urethral strictureUrethral stricture is an abnormal narrowing of the urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries urine out of the body from the bladder.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Urinary reflux from the bladder up into the kidney Normal Results The bladder and urethra will be normal in size and function. What Abnormal Results Mean Abnormal results may indicate the following:Bladder does not empty properly because of a brain or nerve problem (neurogenic bladder) (neurogenic bladder)Neurogenic bladder is a problem in which a person lacks bladder control due to a brain, spinal cord, or nerve condition.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Enlarged prostate gland Enlarged prostate glandThe prostate is a gland that produces some of the fluid that carries sperm during ejaculation. The prostate gland surrounds the urethra, the tube th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Narrowing or scarring of the urethra Pouch-like sacs (diverticula) on the walls of the bladder or urethra Ureterocele UreteroceleA ureterocele is a swelling at the bottom of one of the ureters. Ureters are the tubes that carry urine from the kidney to the bladder. The swollen...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Urinary reflux nephropathyUrinary reflux nephropathyReflux nephropathy is a condition in which the kidneys are damaged by the backward flow of urine into the kidney.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risks You may have some discomfort when urinating after this test because of irritation from the catheter.You may have bladder spasms after this test, which may be a sign of an allergic reaction to the contrast dye. Contact your provider if bothersome bladder spasms occur.Allergic reactionAllergic reactions are sensitivities to substances called allergens that come into contact with the skin, nose, eyes, respiratory tract, and gastroin...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article You may see blood in your urine for a couple of days after this test.Open ReferencesReferencesBellah RD, Tao TY. Pediatric genitourinary radiology. In: Torigian DA, Ramchandani P, eds. Radiology Secrets Plus. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 88.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.Stanasel I, Peters CA. Ectopic ureter, ureterocele, and ureteral anomalies. In: Partin AW, Dmochowski RR, Kavoussi LR, Peters CA, eds. Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 41.