Urography

Magnetic resonance urography is a rapidly evolving collection of procedures that has the potential to provide an efficient noninvasive examination of a wide range of urinary tract problems. MR urography is especially effective in the assessment of possible urinary tract blockage, hematuria (blood in urine), as well as congenital abnormalities, in children, pregnant patients, or in cases where ionizing radiation should be avoided.

In the medical field, an MRI is by far the most efficient imaging technique. It aids in the detection of underlying medical disorders and anomalies that may be difficult to identify with conventional imaging techniques. If you require an MR urography procedure, contact Los Angeles Diagnostics. We have highly trained professionals who will assess your urinary tract's function and collaborate with your doctor to develop a treatment plan that is tailored to your specific needs. We serve the entire Los Angeles area.

Overview of Urography

Urography is a diagnostic procedure that employs imagery as well as contrast material to examine or identify blood in urine, bladder or kidney stones, and cancer of the urinary system.

Several methods for examining the urinary system have been created. Only two of these methods can give a thorough evaluation of the urinary tract, as well as the neighboring organs. These two methods are computed tomographic (CT) urography and magnetic resonance (MR) urography. MR and CT urography are both non-invasive procedures that are efficient in diagnosing urinary tract problems.

Although both types of scans serve the same purpose, they produce their images in distinct ways. An MRI scanning machine uses powerful magnetic fields and radio waves, while a CT scanner uses X-rays to produce images. However, MRI scans provide more comprehensive images.

As stated, computed tomography urogram utilizes X-rays to provide detailed images of a section of the body part being evaluated. The images are then transferred to a computer, where they are quickly reassembled into detailed two-dimensional images.

While CT urography is gaining its full potential for tissue differentiation and spatial resolution, MR urography technology is still in its nascency. MR urography is a developing range of techniques that can deliver the most thorough and precise imaging test for numerous urinary tract problems without the use of invasive procedures.

Common Uses of MR Urography

Urography is performed to assess or diagnose abnormalities within the urinary system, (the ureters, bladder, and kidneys). A urogram enables your physician to see the size and shape of each of the structures and assess if they are functioning well. By using an MR urogram, your doctor can also check for any signs and symptoms of any disease that could affect the urinary tract.

Your doctor could order that you undergo a urography procedure if you have symptoms of a urinary tract problem like pain in your back or side. Urography helps diagnose conditions of the urinary tract such as:

• Hematuria
• Bladder or kidney stones
• Urinary tract cancers
• Tumors
• Structural problems

Patient Preparation

Before your procedure, you should inform your doctor if you:

• Have allergies. By doing so, the doctor might choose to give you medications that might lower the likelihood of any allergic reactions or cancel the examination entirely
• Have previously had any extreme reactions to the iodine contrast materials
• Are pregnant
• Are on any medications
• Have any underlying medical conditions, for example, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, previous organ transplants, or kidney disease. Some conditions could heighten the risk of having adverse effects after the contrast material has been introduced to the body
• Have had any illnesses recently

Certain medical devices that are implanted inside the body are metallic and can't be placed close to an MRI's machine powerful magnets. As a result, your doctor should know if you have any metals on or inside your body to ensure that this examination is safe for you.

During the procedure, your doctor will ask you to wear loose-fitting clothes or a hospital gown. Metallic objects, such as earrings, glasses, dentures, and hair clips, can distort pictures and must be removed before the test begins. He or she could also ask you to remove hearing aids as well as removable dental fixtures.

To distend the bladder, you will be asked to drink water before the procedure begins, and not to urinate until the scan has been completed. The guidelines about drinking liquids or eating, however, will vary depending on the particular examination being performed or the facility.

The MR Urography Procedure

The MR urography is frequently performed as an outpatient procedure.

Your technologist will start by asking you to lie on the MRI exam table, normally on your side, back, or stomach. During several parts of the exam, you might also be required to change your positions. Bolsters and straps can be utilized to keep you in the ideal position and assist you to stay still while the scan is ongoing.

Your technologist may then put equipment with coils that can send and receive radio signals at or around the part of your body being examined. MRI exams often consist of several runs or sequences that could last a few minutes. Evey run will provide a unique set of sounds.

An IV line will then be injected intravenously in your arm or hand if the contrast material is going to be used during the MRI examination. You'll be brought inside the MRI unit's magnet, and the radiologist or technologist will walk out when the MRI is being conducted.

When the examination is finished, the technologist might request that you wait as the radiologist reviews the images to see whether any more images are needed. Following the examination, the technologist shall pull out your Intravenous line and apply a tiny dressing to the site of injection.

Patients with Medical Implants, Accessories, and External Devices

Exposure to MRI scans poses safety issues to people who have permanent devices, auxiliary medical equipment, or implants. Any device that may come into contact with you, like a leg brace, or a wound dressing, is considered external equipment. Accessories, such as a monitor or a ventilator, are considered non-implanted medical equipment that practitioners can utilize to assist or observe the patient. Implanted gadgets, on the other hand, comprise stents, pacemakers, cochlear implants, and prosthetic joints.

The following risks are associated with magnetic fields:

• Unwanted movements of the medical implants
• Burns could happen from the heating of the implanted medical devices
• Failure of electroactive medical equipment
• Poor image quality may render the test ineffective or lead to an incorrect clinical diagnosis, potentially resulting in ineffective medical treatment alternatives

As a result, unless the implanted medical equipment is MR conditional or safe, you shouldn't undergo a diagnostic examination. Because it is nonmagnetic and has no metal nor does it not conduct electricity, it poses no risk in the MR field. You can only utilize the MR conditional equipment safely in an MR setting that matches the device's safe usage requirements.

What to Expect During and After the Procedure

For a urography examination involving MRI, it's natural to feel slight warmth in the part of the body that's being scanned. Notify the technician or radiologist if the warmth concerns you. You must stay completely still when the scans are being recorded. This usually lasts only several seconds or a couple of minutes.

You might hear or feel loud tapping or pounding sounds when photographs are being taken. When the coils that produce the radio signals are ignited, they produce these noises. To lessen the noise generated by the MR scanner, you'll be given headphones or earplugs. You may be allowed to relax in between imaging sessions. You must, however, maintain your position without moving.

In most cases, you'll be left alone in the examination room. The technician will offer you a "squeeze-ball" which informs him or her that you require urgent attention. Many institutions allow a parent or friend to remain in the examination room with the patient if they have undergone screening for safety as well.

Throughout the examination, children may be allowed to wear headphones or earplugs that are the right size for them to reduce nervousness. To relax and unwind, music can be played over the headphones. The MRI scanners are usually well-lit and air-conditioned.

Some patients may have a metallic taste in their mouths as a result of the contrast injection. There is no need for a recovery phase if you were not sedated during the examination. Following the test, you can instantly continue your regular activities.

A few people may experience negative effects due to the contrast substance, however, this rarely happens. Nausea, headaches, and soreness at the injection site are all possible side effects. It is extremely rare for patients to have rashes, irritated eyes, or any other allergic responses to the administered contrast material. Inform the technician when you develop any allergic reactions.

Benefits of Magnetic Resonance Urography

MR and CT urography have each been shown to help detect difficulties or irregularities in sections of the urinary system, such as the kidneys, ureters, and bladder, as well as as a follow-up examination to look for recurring or developing cancers found in the urinary system.

MR and CT urography both give higher anatomic information of the urinary system and adjacent structures when contrasted to comparable imaging procedures.

For MR imaging examinations:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging is a noninvasive imaging technology that doesn't require exposure to radiation
• With conventional imaging modalities, defects may be concealed by bone, but an MRI can spot them
• The gadolinium contrast substance used in MRI is less probable to elicit an allergic response than an iodine contrast material used in x-ray and CT scans

For CT imaging examinations:

• CT scans are noninvasive, painless, and precise
• The capacity of CT to scan bones, soft tissues, as well as blood arteries simultaneously is a significant benefit
• CT scans, unlike standard x-rays, produces extremely comprehensive scans of a variety of tissues, and also the bones, lungs, and blood vessels
• Computed tomography scans are quick and straightforward. They can detect underlying injuries as well as hemorrhage soon to save lives during emergencies
• For a large number of clinical issues, Computed Tomography has been proved to be an affordable imaging method
• The CT scanner is less responsive to patient movements than the MRI scanner
• When compared to an MRI, a CT scan will not be affected by an implanted medical device
• CT imaging allows for actual imaging, which makes it an excellent tool for directing needle aspirations and biopsies. This is especially true for operations on the abdomen, pelvis, lungs, and bones
• The use of a CT scanner to make a diagnosis could prevent the necessity for exploratory surgeries or surgical biopsies
• After a CT scan has been performed, no radiation is retained in the patient's body
• CT scanning uses x-rays, which shouldn't have any apparent negative effects

Risks associated with the Urography Procedure

For MR imaging examinations:

• When proper safety criteria are followed, an MRI test does not pose danger to the typical patient
• Even though the powerful magnetic field is not dangerous in and of itself, metal-containing medical equipment installed in an MRI test may fail or cause difficulties
• The administration of large amounts of gadolinium contrast material in individuals with very low renal function is thought to induce nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), which is now a documented but exceedingly rare MRI consequence. More routinely used forms of gadolinium contrast material, on the other hand, have little to no risk of NSF and could even be given to dialysis patients who have end-stage renal failure

Examinations involving the use of contrast material:

According to IV contrast producers, mothers shouldn't nurse their kids for 24 to 48 hours upon receiving the contrast material. However, research suggests that the quantity of contrast taken up by the newborn while breastfeeding is exceedingly minimal.

When a contrast material is administered, there's a very small chance of an allergic response. Such responses are usually moderate and treatable with medicine. A radiologist or any other specialist will be ready to help if you develop allergy reactions.

Limitations of an MRI Urogram

Below are some limitations of urography

• An extremely huge patient may not be able to fit through the doorway of a standard scanner. They could also be above the recommended weight for the movable table, which is normally 450 pounds
• The capability to remain completely still and observe breath-holding guidelines while the shots are being captured is required for high-quality scans. It may be hard to lie motionless during scanning if you're worried, frightened, or in extreme pain
• Larger patients may not be able to fit inside certain MRI equipment. The scanners have weight restrictions
• Implants as well as other metallic artifacts might make obtaining quality images challenging. The same can be said about patient movement
• The clarity of images might be affected by a highly irregular heartbeat. This is because some imaging methods rely on the heart's electrical activity to time the image
• A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan isn't always capable of distinguishing between cancer tissue from fluid, often referred to as edema
• The MRI examination is usually more expensive and takes longer than other imaging tests. If you're worried about the expense of the MRI, speak to your health insurer

MR Urography Costs

The cost of an MRI scan is determined by several criteria, including your healthcare insurance, health insurer, facility, radiologist, as well as state of residence.

Similarly, expenses might vary significantly depending on underlying health issues, imaging locations, and contrast requirements. Understanding the cost of an MRI, how to get estimates before the procedure, and why rates vary might help you keep your out-of-pocket spending to a minimum.

To begin, the cost of an MRI varies depending on which institution you visit. Depending on if you have the procedure at an imaging center or a hospital, there could be a cost difference. Since imaging facilities have a specific specialty, it could affect the cost, the type of insurance they accept, the skill and experience of their employees, and the procedure.

It's no surprise that the cost of an MRI varies so much because there are so many elements at play. This is why getting an approximation is the only way to fully know how much an MRI will cost. You would like to be certain the estimates you get are exact, detailed, and customized, taking into account the treatment you've been recommended as well as your health insurer.

You'll need your prescriptions or the information of the image the doctor ordered, as well as your insurance card and some time to get an exact estimate.

You need to:

• Look up in-network institutions on your insurer's provider directory website
• Get an estimate from each facility by calling them
• Make a point of telling them who your insurance carrier is and what kind of coverage you have
• Take accurate notes so you can compare the estimations to the bill

Find MR Urography Services Near Me

We at Los Angeles Diagnostics understand the importance of urography in ensuring proper diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of urinary tract problems. We have qualified radiologists on hand to assist you in understanding the results of your scans. Call us today at 323-486-7502 for a consultation or to make an appointment if you are in Los Angeles.