Blood in the urine
Blood in the urine can have many causes – for example a urinary tract infection, a stone or a benign enlargement of the prostate. However, it can also be the first sign of a tumour of the bladder.
Visible blood in the urine in particular should therefore be assessed by a urologist promptly – even if it happened only once or causes no pain.
Diagnosis
Depending on the findings, the examination includes:
- Urine test
- Ultrasound
- Cystoscopy (looking into the bladder)
- if necessary, further imaging of the upper urinary tract
TURBT – transurethral resection of a bladder tumour
If cystoscopy shows a suspicious change, it can be removed via the urethra in a transurethral resection of the bladder tumour (TURBT). The removed tissue is then examined under the microscope.
The result shows what kind of tumour it is, how deeply it has grown into the bladder wall and which further treatment or follow-up is needed.
Simplified illustration: the bladder is examined from the inside via the urethra; a lesion can be removed through the same access.
- Bladder
- Lesion of the bladder wall
- Instrument in the urethra
Support and follow-up care
I accompany my patients from discussing the findings through planning and performing the operation to deciding on the next steps – including follow-up care for bladder tumours.
When should you see a urologist?
- visible blood in the urine, or blood found repeatedly in urine tests
- a known or suspected bladder tumour