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When to Call the Doctor |
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Pain or burning during urination
Blood in the urine
Pain in the side or lower abdomen
Frequent urination
Slowing of urinary stream
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Imaging/X-Ray
Imaging Tests
Imaging studies reveal the location of tumor, which is very important in diagnosing bladder cancer because blood in the urine may not necessarily be coming from the bladder. These imaging tests view the entire urinary tract -- kidneys, ureters and bladder. First, a dye is injected into your veins. As the dye is picked up by your kidneys and excreted into your urine, x-rays mark its progress. This x-ray imaging test is called an intravenous pyelogram (IVP).
If a cystoscopy is being performed, a dye could be inserted during that procedure. A cystoscopy is a technique that uses a lighted telescope instrument (cystoscope) that is inserted into the urethra and the bladder to allow the doctor to look at the interior surface of the bladder.
Other radioactive scans check the anatomy of the abdomen and pelvis. High-tech scans (CT, MRI and/or PET) are used to determine if the cancer has spread beyond its place of origin.
More on Bladder Cancer How Is Bladder Cancer Diagnosed?
Shortening the Wait for Imaging Results
In the Encyclopedia:
Bladder cancer
Transurethral bladder resection
Cystectomy
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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