A voiding cystourethrogram is an x-ray examination of the bladder and urethra that is performed while the bladder is emptying.
Alternative NamesCystourethrogram - voiding
How the test is performedThe test is performed in a hospital radiology department or in a health care provider's office by an x-ray technician.
You will lie on your back on the x-ray table. A thin, flexible tube called a catheter will be gently inserted into the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body) and passed into the bladder.
Contrast dye flows through the catheter into the bladder. This dye helps the bladder show up better on x-ray images.
The x-rays are taken from various angles while the bladder is full of contrast dye. The catheter is removed so that you can urinate. Images are taken while you empty your bladder.
How to prepare for the testYou must sign a consent form. You will be given a gown to wear.
Remove all jewelry before the test. Inform the health care provider if you are:
You may feel some discomfort when the catheter is placed and while your bladder is full.
Why the test is performedThis test is commonly done to diagnose the cause of urinary tract infections, particularly in those who have repeated infections. It is also used to diagnose and evaluate:
The bladder and urethra will be normal in size and function.
What abnormal results meanAbnormal results may indicate the following:
Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:
You may have some discomfort when urinating after this test because of irritation from the catheter.
You may have bladder spasms after this test, which may be a sign of an allergic reaction to the contrast dye. Contact your health care provider if bothersome bladder spasms occur.
A voiding cystourethrogram is an x-ray examination of the bladder and urethra that is performed while the bladder is emptying.
Alternative NamesCystourethrogram - voiding
How the test is performedThe test is performed in a hospital radiology department or in a health care provider's office by an x-ray technician.
You will lie on your back on the x-ray table. A thin, flexible tube called a catheter will be gently inserted into the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body) and passed into the bladder.
Contrast dye flows through the catheter into the bladder. This dye helps the bladder show up better on x-ray images.
The x-rays are taken from various angles while the bladder is full of contrast dye. The catheter is removed so that you can urinate. Images are taken while you empty your bladder.
How to prepare for the testYou must sign a consent form. You will be given a gown to wear.
Remove all jewelry before the test. Inform the health care provider if you are:
You may feel some discomfort when the catheter is placed and while your bladder is full.
Why the test is performedThis test may be done to diagnose the cause of urinary tract infections, especially in children who have had more than one urinary tract or bladder infection.
It is also used to diagnose and evaluate:
The bladder and urethra will be normal in size and function.
What abnormal results meanAbnormal results may indicate the following:
You may have some discomfort when urinating after this test because of irritation from the catheter.
You may have bladder spasms after this test, which may be a sign of an allergic reaction to the contrast dye. Contact your health care provider if bothersome bladder spasms occur.
ReferencesBhayani SB, Siegel CL. Urinary tract imaging: Basic principles. In: Wein AJ, ed. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 4.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 10/11/2010
Louis S. Liou, MD, PhD, Chief of Urology, Cambridge Health Alliance, Visiting Assistant Professor of Surger, Harvard Medical School. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
VCUG
Voiding Cystourethrogram
A voiding cystourethrogram or VCUG is a diagnostic X-ray which studies the bladder and urethra. This helps to determine the bladder capacity and to detect the abnormalities of the urethra.
Cystoscopy
Urination is known as voiding or micturition.
Micturition, Diuresis voiding, or voiding the bladder
The term void is normally used to indicate a voiding of the bladder (peeing) or voiding of the bowels (poohing). It is not normally used to indicate a voiding of the stomach, this is called vomiting.
voiding urine
Maybe voiding? urination (voiding)- process of expelling urine; also called micturition
Maybe voiding? urination (voiding)- process of expelling urine; also called micturition
voided
Yes. The terms "micturition," "voiding" and "emiction" all refer to urination, the passage of urine from the bladder through the urethra to the outside of the body.