Urinary bladder

A free gallery of high-resolution, ultrasound, color doppler and 3D images

Ultrasound images of diseases of the urinary bladder:

1) Large urinary bladder calculus:

This 50 yr. old male patient complained of hematuria. Sonography reveals a large echogenic,oval object of 4.4 cms. in the urinary bladder. As the ultrasound images reveal, it is freely mobile with change in position, occupying the dependent part of the bladder. Diagnosis: large stone in the urinary bladder. Urinary bladder calculi are usually formed by migration of stones from the kidney or ureter. It may also be caused due to stasis of urine in the bladder, due to bladder outlet obstruction. Ultrasound images taken using Pie Scanner 100 Falco system.

2) IUCD in urinary bladder:

(Intrauterine contraceptive device in Urinary bladder):

Sonography of the pelvis in this female patient revealed an echogenic linear object with posterior acoustic shadowing in the urinary bladder. X-ray images reveal the object to be a T-shaped structure. Ultrasound and X-ray images are diagnostic of a Copper-T (IUCD or intrauterine contraceptive device) which migrated to the urinary bladder. A snap of the specimen after removal is also seen. It appears to be coated with urinary sediment. Images courtesy of Dr. Ravi Kadasne, UAE.

3) Urinary bladder wall trabeculation in a case of Lower urinary tract obstruction:

Sonography of the urinary system was done on this elderly male patient having lower urinary tract symptoms. Ultrasound images show evidence of trabeculation of the urinary bladder. This is seen as folds of hypertrophied bladder mucosa and bladder smooth muscle. There is also evidence of bilateral moderate hydronephrosis (image top right). The cause of Lower urinary tract obstruction appears to the enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hypertrophy) with intravesical enlargement of the median lobe (image on lower left). The fourth image shows significant post-voiding residual urine in the urinary bladder (Ultrasound image on lower right). All images by Joe Antony, MD, using a Toshiba Nemio-XG ultrasound system.

4) Ureterocele:

Sonography of the urinary bladder done on this patient, revealed a saccular outpouching of the distal end of the left ureter, into the distended urinary bladder. The left ureter also appears dilated (left hydroureter). These ultrasound images are diagnostic of left ureterocele. Ureteroceles are caused due to congenital obstruction of the ureter during the embryonic stage. Here the left kidney also shows back-pressure changes (left hydronephrosis). Observation of the orifice shows gradual distension of the membrane of the ureterocele sac and then collapse of the sac after evacuation of the contained urine into the bladder lumen. Ultrasound images courtesy of Dr. Ravi Kadasne, UAE.

Reference: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/451105-overview (free article)

http://radiographics.rsna.org/content/20/1/155.full (free article and images)

Ureterocele seen on TRUS (Transrectal ultrasound) imaging:

The above ultrasound images show transrectal imaging of the urinary bladder with a small left ureterocele visible. The left ureter also appears mildly dilated (hydroureter). The ureterocele is seen partially distended and also seen in the collapsing stage as the pressure builds up within the sac (of the ureterocele) with resultant evacuation of the urine into the bladder (seen on Power Doppler image- lower right). The jet of urine is seen emanating from the ureterocele sac. All 4 ultrasound images taken via TRUS study using Toshiba Nemio-XG system.

Ureterocele with calculus:

This patient underwent sonography of the abdomen for suspected calculus disease. Ultrasound images show left hydroureter with calculus within the left ureterocele. The image on left shows the dilated left ureter in long section. Ultrasound image on right shows the urinary bladder with the calculus impacted within the ureterocele. Both images are courtesy of Ravi Kadasne, MD, UAE.

5) Carcinoma of Urinary Bladder:

This elderly male patient presented with hematuria. Sonography of the urinary bladder showed: 1) a large cauliflower shaped mass producing thickening of the bladder wall (the lower half of the urinary bladder was affected). 2) Power Doppler images (top row) show considerable vascularity of the mass (arrows). Sonography of the kidneys show bilateral moderate hydronephrosis with bilateral hydroureter. This suggests obstruction of the distal ends of both ureters, probably at the level of both vesico-ureteric junctions. TRUS (transrectal ultrasound) imaging shows mild prostatic enlargement (benign prostatic hypertrophy). TRUS study also shows complete emptying of the urinary bladder with no post-voiding residual urine. However, the highly vascular mass is seen to involve a large portion of the urinary bladder (lower right). These ultrasound and Power Doppler images are suggestive of carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Images taken using a Nemio-XG ultrasound system by Joe Antony, MD, India.

Reference: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/444061-overview (carcinoma in situ of urinary bladder).. free article..

6) Diverticulum of urinary bladder:

This elderly male patient had symptoms of lower urinary tract obstruction. Sonography of the abdomen shows a large sac like structure, communicating freely with the urinary bladder through a small orifice (6 mm. in size). These ultrasound images are diagnostic of diverticulum of the urinary bladder. Color Doppler images show to and fro flow across the orifice between the bladder and the diverticulum. Surprisingly, the kidneys appear normal in structure.

Reference: http://www.medcyclopaedia.com/library/topics/volume_iv_2/d/diverticulum_bladder.aspx

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1015329-overview

7) Urostomy / Continent Pouch- Continent urinary diversion:

Ultrasound study of Bladder replacement surgeries:

a) Artificial bladder made from small bowel:

This elderly patient underwent surgical removal of the urinary bladder for malignant bladder mass (carcinoma). A urostomy was done with an artificial bladder (pouch) created using a segment of small bowel. The structure (pouch) is seen fully distended in the ultrasound images in the top row and bottom-left. The image on bottom right shows the pouch after evacuation of the urine via catheter inserted via stoma in the abdominal wall. Note the close relation of the pouch to the right kidney. Such a pouch is also called a continent cutaneous reservoir. Urine collects in this reservoir within the abdomen till it is full. Urine is drained via a stoma (opening in the abdomen connected to the continent cutaneous reservoir). Both kidneys (top-left) show mild pelvicalyceal dilation.

continental pouch anatomy This image shows the anatomy of the continent cutaneous reservoir.

Reference: http://www.kidneyurology.org/Library/Urologic_Health.php/Urostomy_and_Continent_Urinary_Diversion.php

b) Sigmoid pouch (sigma pouch) or uretero-sigmoidostomy:

This male, elderly patient underwent cystectomy (surgical removal of urinary bladder) for carcinoma of the organ. A bladder replacement surgery in this case was done by creating an artificial pouch using the sgmoid colon (sigmoid pouch) with the ureters emptying in to this pouch (uretero-sigmoidostomy). Ultrasound images above show a partially (urine) filled sigmoid pouch in this study of the pelvis.

It is important to do a follow up ultrasound study of the urinary tract to rule out pyelonephritis in such cases. Here the kidneys appear normal.

Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16336348

http://www.moffitt.org/moffittapps/ccj/v3n6/a4.html

8) Bilharziasis (Schistosomiasis) of the urinary bladder:

This patient presented with lower urinary symptoms, dysuria and hematuria. Sonography of the pelvis showed thickening of the wall of the urinary bladder with extensive calcification. These ultrasound images suggest a diagnosis of schistosomiasis or bilharziasis of the wall of the urinary bladder. Bilharziasis is a parasitic infestation which primarily involves the urinary bladder, though the liver and spleen may also be affected. The disease is caused by contact with water infested with the parasite- schistosoma and is endemic in parts of Africa (Egypt and Sudan). Both above images are courtesy of Ravi Kadasne, MD, UAE.

CT Scan imaging in Bilharziasis:

The above CT (computerized tomography) images (another patient) show hyperdense, extensive involvement of the urinary bladder suggesting calcification of the bladder wall. This is a typical appearance of Schistosomiasis of the urinary bladder and is caused by calcification of the dead schistosoma parasites or their eggs. CAT scan images are courtesy of Nirmali Dutta, MD, UAE.

Liver/ Spleen involvement in Schistosomiasis:

This patient is a known case of Bilharziasis and ultrasound showed hepatosplenomegaly with increased echogenicity of the periportal regions of the portal veins suggesting periportal fibrosis. Fibrosis of the periportal regions of the liver is a known complication of hepatic involvement in schistosomiasis. Ultrasound images are courtesy of Ravi Kadasne, MD, UAE.

Reference: 1) http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/377318-overview

2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schistosomiasis

9) Urachal cyst in urinary bladder:

This patient underwent sonography of the urinary bladder which revealed a small cystic structure with well defined wall and turbid fluid content, protruding into the lumen of the bladder, from its dome. The ultrasound images at bottom and on top-right show 3-D display of the cyst (the image at bottom row shows a surface rendering 3-D image of the lesion). These ultrasound appearances are suggestive of urachal cyst involving the urinary bladder. A urachal cyst can occur anywhere between the ends of the obliterated part of the urachus. Most urachal cysts occur close to the umbilicus, ie: the upper part of the urachus. Images are courtesy of Ravi Kadasne, MD, UAE.

Reference: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1015329-overview (free article)

10) Ultrasound images of polyp (inverted papilloma) in urinary bladder:

This polyp like mass was seen close to the bladder neck on transabdominal ultrasound imaging (image on top row-left). It measured 14 x 5 mm. and showed considerable vascularity on color Doppler imaging (see image in bottom -left). The TRUS ultrasound images (Transrectal ultrasound) show the polyp clearly arising from the urinary bladder mucosa (lower part of trigone), close to the prostate. Such polyps can give rise to obstructive voiding symptoms (as in this patient) due to its tendency to block the adjacent bladder neck by a valvular mechanism. This patient underwent a biopsy of the polyp to rule out malignancy of this mass. This was found to be an inverted papilloma of the urinary bladder on cystoscopy, and was confirmed by histopathological study. The sketch (bottom row) shows the trigone of the bladder with the inverted papilloma arising from the lower part of the trigone, producing obstruction at the bladder neck.

Reference: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1788400-overview

http://www.ajronline.org/cgi/reprint/159/1/93.pdf ( excellent article-free)

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This page was last edited on: Wednesday June 30, 2010 12:53 PM

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