Breast Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA)
What are the prerequisites for having a breast FNA done? In symptomatic women, a preliminary careful clinical examination and imaging…
Read more
MCUs are performed in children with abnormal renal ultrasound studies suspicious of vesico-ureteric reflux or with recurrent proven urinary tract infections (UTIs). Children over twelve months of age without abnormal ultrasound findings are generally not investigated by MCU unless they have been reviewed by an urologist. There remains some controversy about the role of imaging in the investigation of children with UTIs but ultrasound findings usually determine the need for additional investigations or intervention.
Radiologists require a clearly written (legible) request with sufficient clinical information to ensure that the most appropriate examination is performed. Not only does this enable the correct study to be performed, it also enables provision of a meaningful report.
Active UTI is a contraindication for MCU. Meatal stenosis in boys or vulval adhesions in girls are a contraindication as the catheter cannot be safely inserted into the urethra or the bladder when these conditions are present. These conditions are also often associated with recurrent UTIs and should be treated before vesico-ureteric reflux is considered.
A normal well performed renal ultrasound study is usually sufficient to exclude significant vesico-ureteric reflux in a child with a urinary tract infection. Low grade reflux is no longer routinely surgically treated. Toilet trained children may have an indirect nuclear medicine cystogram study as an alternative but this requires an intravenous injection, so should be reserved for children with good indications for further investigation.
Some children (and parents) find the procedure uncomfortable, particularly if the child becomes distressed with a full bladder and is unwilling or unable to void. There is a small risk of urinary tract infection that is a consequence of bladder catheterisation. Very small children usually cope with the test very well.
Older children requiring investigation of recurrent urinary tract infections may benefit from a nuclear medicine renal scan with indirect or direct isotope cystogram study. These are often less traumatic and the indirect cystogram study does not require bladder catheterisation. An MCU only needs to be performed if the renal ultrasound is abnormal or the patient has significant symptoms that warrant investigation by a urologist.
Page last modified on 26/7/2017.
RANZCR® is not aware that any person intends to act or rely upon the opinions, advices or information contained in this publication or of the manner in which it might be possible to do so. It issues no invitation to any person to act or rely upon such opinions, advices or information or any of them and it accepts no responsibility for any of them.
RANZCR® intends by this statement to exclude liability for any such opinions, advices or information. The content of this publication is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. It is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient and his/her doctor. Some of the tests and procedures included in this publication may not be available at all radiology providers.
RANZCR® recommends that any specific questions regarding any procedure be discussed with a person's family doctor or medical specialist. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, RANZCR®, its Board, officers and employees assume no responsibility for its content, use, or interpretation. Each person should rely on their own inquires before making decisions that touch their own interests.