UNDERSTANDING BPH AND HOW IFS DIAGNOSED: ULTRASOUND AND INTRAVENOUS PYELOGRAM
Ultrasound, a painless method of imaging, creates a picture with high-frequency sound waves—like sonar on a submarine. It may be done either from the outside, through the abdomen, or transrectally, via a wand inserted in the rectum. Though not recommended for most men with BPH, it can be valuable in checking for such problems as obstruction of the kidney, stones, or a hidden tumor in the upper urinary tract, in estimating how well the bladder is emptying, and determining the size of the prostate.
Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP), an X-ray view of the urinary tract, can also determine urinary obstruction or the presence of tumors in the kidney. It works like a glow-in-the-dark picture: A special dye is injected, making urine visible and its path from the kidneys and out of the body easily traceable—and any blockage easy to see. Some men have severe allergic reactions to this dye, so this test is not routinely used. (Unfortunately, there is no way to predict who will have such a reaction.) It’s usually reserved for evaluating men who have blood in their urine.
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