Why is a nuclear medicine VCUG done?
Normally, the kidneys filter liquid waste (urine) from the body. The urine flows down the ureters (small tubes) from the kidneys to the bladder. The bladder is the part of your child’s body that stores urine. When it is time for the bladder to empty, the sphincter (muscle) relaxes and the bladder squeezes the urine out. Once the bladder is empty, the sphincter tightens; the bladder relaxes and starts to refill. The urethra is the tube the urine flows through from the bladder to the outside of the body. A Nuclear Medicine VCUG is done to check the urine flow through the bladder and urethra. It shows any reflux (reverse flow) of urine and how well the bladder empties. Urine flow should be down from the kidneys to the bladder. With reflux, there is urine flow back up the ureters from the bladder as well as urine flowing out the urethra.
