Cystoscopy, Ureteroscopy, Urinary Problem
When you have a urinary problem, your doctor may use a cystoscope to see inside your bladder and urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. The cystoscope has lenses like a telescope or microscope. These lenses let the doctor focus on the inner surfaces of the urinary tract. Some cystoscopes use optical fibers (flexible glass fibers) that carry an image from the tip of the instrument to a viewing piece at the other end. The cystoscope is as thin as a pencil and has a light at the tip. Many cystoscopes have extra tubes to guide other instruments for procedures to treat urinary problems.
Your doctor may recommend cystoscopy for any of the following conditions:
frequent urinary tract infections
blood in your urine (hematuria)
loss of bladder control (incontinence) or overactive bladder
unusual cells found in urine sample
need for a bladder catheter
painful urination, chronic pelvic pain, or interstitial cystitis
urinary blockage such as prostate enlargement, stricture, or narrowing of the urinary tract
stone in the urinary tract
unusual growth, polyp, tumor, or cancer

If you have a stone lodged higher in your urinary tract, the doctor may extend the cystoscope through the bladder and up into the ureter. The ureter is the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder. When used to view the ureters, the cystoscope is called a ureteroscope. The doctor can then see the stone and remove it with a small basket at the end of a wire inserted through an extra tube in the ureteroscope. The doctor may also use the extra tube in the cystoscope to extend a flexible fiber that carries a laser beam to break the stone into smaller pieces that can then pass out of the body in your urine.
Content Courtesy : kidney.niddk.nih.gov
^{Note : Information herein is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use this information for diagnosing or treating a medical or health condition. If you have or suspect you have a medical problem, promptly contact your professional healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider before beginning any course of supplementation or treatment.}