Genitourinary Injuries

Diagnosis of Genitourinary Symptoms

Potential symptoms or signs of a genitourinary injury are:

• Hematuria (blood in the urine)
• Inability to urinate
• Pain and/or bruising involving the flank (side), groin or scrotum.

If any of these signs or symptoms are present, further evaluation of the genitorurinary tract is performed by a urologist. This may include blood tests for renal (kidney) function, anemia or other health problems; urine tests for the presence of blood; and X-rays, including:

• Abdominal CT scan
  This test uses a series of thin X-ray beams to produce two-dimensional images of the urinary system, which helps identify renal, ureteral or bladder injuries.
  

• Cystogram
  Contrast dye is injected into the bladder and an X-ray is taken to check for bladder injuries and urinary tract functions. Also called a bladder scan.

• Retrograde uretherogram
  During this test, a contrast dye is injected into the urethra and X-rays are taken to identify injuries or narrowing of the urethra.

• Testicular ultrasound
  Sound waves help the doctor evaluate blood flow and look for injuries to the genital area.

• Cystoscopy with retrograde pyelogram
  The doctor inserts a cytoscope, a thin tube including an optical system, into the urethra. A catheter is threaded through the cytoscope, and dye is injected through the catheter into the ureter. X-rays are taken to evaluate injury to the ureters and kidney area.