In clinical practice, the correct and effective examination is usually chosen to clarify the diagnosis primarily, and a more comprehensive examination can exclude diseases that are not easily detected. A comprehensive examination of the urinary system includes physical examination, laboratory tests, instrumentation and endoscopy, and imaging.
1. The physical examination, which is a basic examination of the genitourinary system by the physician, is more subjective and usually does not require sophisticated tools. It includes visual, tactile, percussive, and auditory examination of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, penis and urethra in men, scrotum and its contents, rectum and prostate, and urethra and vagina in women.
2. Laboratory tests, including urinalysis, renal function tests, prostate cancer screening, and semen analysis, are more objective and require the use of sophisticated instruments. It is important to note that when urine is retained, it is usually appropriate to collect mid-stage urine.
3. Instrumentation and endoscopy, including catheterization, urethral probes, cystourethroscopy, ureteroscopy and nephroscopy, fine needle aspiration biopsy of the prostate, and urodynamics, are used for organic pathologies such as urethral obstruction, prostate cancer, and the need for a definitive diagnosis or improvement of current symptoms, depending on the physician.
4. Imaging tests usually include ultrasound, x-ray, MRI, and radionuclide imaging. The use of ultrasound in routine examinations is high, and it is widely used for screening, diagnosis, and follow-up of urologic diseases. It is used clinically to determine the nature of renal masses, stones, and hydronephrosis, to determine residual urine, and to measure prostate volume.
For the above tests, the patient’s own situation needs to be taken into account and needs to be targeted to clarify the diagnosis in the fastest and most effective way and to take effective therapeutic measures to improve the patient’s condition and improve the patient’s quality of life.