Computed tomography

Over the last two decades, the exponential use of CT in the assessment of the urological patient has been fuelled by the advent of multidetector thin slice CT and supersession of intravenous urography by CT urography. The latter may be considered as a one-stop imaging investigation for haematuria, with increased detection of urinary tract cancers and urolithiasis alike. Multi-planar reformats are made possible with the use of thin slices, allowing clear delineation of other pathologies such as urinary tract injury, and can aid PCNL planning. Outside of this spectrum, unenhanced CT of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder has established its role in assessment of the patient with symptoms of renal colic, with the scope to detect pathology outside of the urinary tract. Renal CT has been developed for the characterization of renal masses, accompanied by the now well-established Bosniak renal cyst classification system.