How is vesicoureteral reflux diagnosed?
Ureteral Reflux can often be detected by ultrasound before a child is born. If there is a family history of Ureteral Reflux, but your child has no symptoms, your child’s physician may elect to perform a diagnostic test to rule out Ureteral Reflux. Diagnostic procedures for Ureteral Reflux may include: Voiding Cystourethrogram (VCUG) – a specific x-ray that examines the urinary tract. A catheter (hollow tube) is placed in the urethra (tube that drains urine from the bladder to the outside of the body) and the bladder is filled with a liquid dye. X-ray images will be taken as the bladder fills and empties. The images will show if there is any reverse flow of urine into the ureters and kidneys. Renal ultrasound – a non-invasive test in which a transducer is passed over the kidney producing sound waves which bounce off the kidney, transmitting a picture of the organ on a video screen. The test is used to determine the size and shape of the kidney, and to detect a mass, kidney stone, cyst,
