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Computed tomography of the bladder
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
Catheters
The bladder wall is best examined with the bladder filled. If a urinary catheter is inserted and sterile water is injected into the bladder before the CT scan, it will act as a low-density contrast agent. In this case, local or diffuse trabecular thickening of the bladder wall associated with prostatic hyperplasia will be clearly visible. If a stent is inserted into the ureter for a stricture or retroperitoneal neoplasm, the distal end of the JJ stent may be visible in the lumen of the bladder.
Diverticula
The diverticulum is usually located on the periphery of the bladder and after the introduction of a contrast agent it is easily distinguished from an ovarian cyst. The jet phenomenon can often be seen in the posterobasal recess of the bladder. It occurs due to peristalsis of the ureter. There is an injection of a portion of contrasted urine into the lumen of the bladder, which is filled with not yet contrasted, hypodense urine.
Solid tumor formations
Bladder wall tumors become clearly visible after intravenous or intravesical administration of contrast medium. They have a characteristic irregular outline without accumulation of contrast medium. Tumors should not be confused with intravesical blood clot after transurethral resection of the prostate gland. It is important to determine the exact size of the tumor and its infiltration into adjacent organs (cervix, ureter or rectum).
If the bladder is removed for cancer, a urine reservoir may be created from a section of small intestine (ileal pouch) that is isolated from the GI tract. Urine is excreted into the reservoir and then through a urostomy into a urine bag
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