Cause | Common Features* | Tests† |
---|---|---|
Benign prostatic hyperplasia Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a noncancerous (benign) enlargement of the prostate gland that can make urination difficult. The prostate gland enlarges as men age. Men may have difficulty... read more (noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland) | Mainly in men over 50 Often difficulty starting urination, a weak urine stream, a sensation of incomplete urination, or dribbling at the end of urination An enlarged prostate detected during a digital rectal examination | Blood tests to measure the PSA level Cystoscopy Cystoscopy A doctor can diagnose some disorders of the bladder and urethra (for example, bladder tumors, stones in the bladder, or bothersome urinary symptoms) by looking through a flexible viewing tube... read more Often ultrasonography of the bladder to measure how much urine remains in the bladder after voiding (postvoid residual urine volume) |
Bladder cancer Bladder Cancer Most bladder cancers arise from the cells that form the innermost layer of the bladder. These cells, called transitional cells or urothelial cells, allow the bladder to stretch when it is full... read more or kidney cancer Kidney Cancer Most solid kidney tumors are cancerous, but purely fluid-filled tumors (cysts) generally are not. Almost all kidney cancer is renal cell carcinoma. Another kind of kidney cancer, Wilms tumor... read more | Mainly in people over 50 or with risk factors for these cancers (smoking, family members who have had cancer, or exposure to chemicals that may cause cancer) Sometimes burning or pain during urination or an urgent need to urinate Often symptoms that affect the whole body (such as fever, chills, weight loss or sweating) | Examination of the interior of the bladder using a flexible viewing tube inserted through the urethra ( cystoscopy Cystoscopy A doctor can diagnose some disorders of the bladder and urethra (for example, bladder tumors, stones in the bladder, or bothersome urinary symptoms) by looking through a flexible viewing tube... read more ) Possible bladder biopsy Bladder biopsy Site-specific biopsies and cell sampling are also used in the evaluation of people with suspected kidney and urinary tract disorders. (See also Overview of the Urinary Tract.) A kidney biopsy... read more Sometimes CT or MRI |
Usually in women and girls A frequent and urgent need to urinate Burning or pain during urination Getting up at night to urinate Sometimes blood in the urine or foul-smelling urine | A doctor's examination Usually urinalysis Urinalysis and Urine Culture Urinalysis, the testing of urine, may be necessary in the evaluation of kidney and urinary tract disorders and can also help evaluate bodywide disorders such as diabetes or liver problems. A... read more and urine culture Urinalysis and Urine Culture Urinalysis, the testing of urine, may be necessary in the evaluation of kidney and urinary tract disorders and can also help evaluate bodywide disorders such as diabetes or liver problems. A... read more | |
Injury | Usually an obvious injury | Usually CT of the abdomen and pelvis |
Kidney filtering disorders (glomerular disorders, such as glomerulonephritis Glomerulonephritis Glomerulonephritis is a disorder of glomeruli (clusters of microscopic blood vessels in the kidneys with small pores through which blood is filtered). It is characterized by body tissue swelling... read more ) | Sometimes high blood pressure High Blood Pressure High blood pressure (hypertension) is persistently high pressure in the arteries. Often no cause for high blood pressure can be identified, but sometimes it occurs as a result of an underlying... read more and swelling in the feet or legs Sometimes protein in the urine, malformed red blood cells, clumps of red blood cells, and/or decreased kidney function Possibly red or dark (cola-colored) urine Sometimes occurring after an infection Sometimes in people who have family members with a kidney or a connective tissue disorder | Urinalysis Blood tests |
Long-lasting pain in the flank or abdomen High blood pressure Sometimes enlarged kidneys detected on an imaging test done for another reason or during a doctor's examination | Ultrasonography Often CT or MRI of the abdomen | |
Mainly in men over 50 Sometimes a lump in the prostate detected during a digital rectal examination Occasionally a weak urine stream, difficulty starting urination, and dribbling at the end of urination | Blood tests to measure the PSA level | |
Often fever, difficulty starting urination, frequent urination, the need to urinate during the night, and burning or pain during urination Often symptoms of a long-standing blockage in the urinary tract (including a weak urine stream, difficulty passing urine, or dribbling at the end of urination) In an acute infection, an enlarged, tender prostate detected during a digital rectal examination; in chronic prostatitis, there may not be any significant symptoms | A doctor's examination Urinalysis and urine culture Sometimes transrectal ultrasonography or cystoscopy | |
Usually in people already known to have sickle cell disease Mainly in people of African or Mediterranean descent Often in children and young adults | Blood tests to check for abnormal hemoglobin in red blood cells | |
Severe pain in the lower back side (flank) that occurs suddenly or pain in the abdomen or groin that comes in waves Sometimes the urge to urinate but an inability to do so Sometimes vomiting | CT or ultrasonography of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder | |
* Features include symptoms and the results of a doctor's examination. Features mentioned are typical but not always present. | ||
† Tests include urinalysis in all people, blood tests to evaluate renal function in most people, and imaging of the kidneys and pelvis in most older people. | ||
CT = computed tomography; MRI = magnetic resonance imaging; PSA = prostate-specific antigen. |