URINARY SYSTEM:
It consists of the kidneys, their ureters,
urinary bladder and urethra. The kidneys produce the urine; the ureters
drain the urine from kidneys to the bladder, which stores it. The stored
urine is then expelled out of the body through urethra. By the process
of urine formation, kidneys filter the blood; eliminate the metabolic
waste, any excess of ions out of the body. This is how kidneys maintain
homeostasis of water, pH, ions & blood pressure.
CONDITIONS OF KIDNEYS:
1 - Congenital anomalies
2- Polycystic kidney diseases
3- Kidney stones
4 - Tumors
5 - Kidney failure
6 - Urinary tract infections
7 - Inflammatory conditions
8 - Immune system conditions
ULTRASOUND EXAM OF THE KIDNEYS: can detect any congenital abnormality, kidney cysts, kidney stones and kidney tumors.
URINARY BLADDER:
is a hollow organ in the pelvis that stores urine from the kidneys. It
is one of the body organs that people pay the least attention to, until
it stops working.
Ultrasound technology can detect the stones in the bladder.
BLADDER CANCER
is the 6th most common cancer in USA. It begins in the bladder wall in
the cells lining the inside of the bladder. It usually affects the older
adults but it can occur at any age.
Symptoms:
1 - Blood in urine (hematuria) — Blood in the urine could be microscopic to bright red colored or dark cola colored.
2 - Frequent desires to urinate.
3 - Difficulty & pain while urinating.
4 - Pain in the lower back.
5 - Pain in the lower abdomen & pelvis.
The
ultrasound can help to determine the size of the bladder cancer and if
there is spread in the surrounding organs or tissues. When it is
diagnosed at an early stage it is highly treatable. Recurrence is very
common, and for this reason a cancer survivor is followed up for years
to check any bladder cancer recurrence.