The evolution in imaging has had an increasing role in the diagnosis, staging and follow up of bladder cancer. Conventional cystoscopy is crucial in the diagnosis of bladder cancer. However, a cystoscopic procedure cannot always depict carcinoma in situ (CIS) or differentiate benign from malignant tumors prior to biopsy. This review will discuss the standard application, novel imaging modalities and their additive role in patients with bladder cancer. Staging can be performed with CT, but distinguishing between T1 and T2 BCa (bladder cancer) cannot be assessed. MRI can distinguish muscle-invasive from non-muscle-invasive tumors with accurate local staging. Vesical Imaging-Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) score is a new diagnostic modality used for the prediction of tumor aggressiveness and therapeutic response. Bone scintigraphy is recommended in patients with muscle-invasive BCa with suspected bony metastases. CT shows low sensitivity for nodal staging; however, PET (Positron Emission Tomography)/CT is superior and highly recommended for restaging and determining therapeutic effect. PET/MRI is a new imaging technique in bladder cancer imaging and its role is promising. Texture analysis has shown significant steps in discriminating low-grade from high-grade bladder cancer. Radiomics could be a reliable method for quantitative assessment of the muscle invasion of bladder cancer.

Objective: To define predictors for initial retrograde ureteral stenting (RUS) failure with the need for the percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) insertion as a drainage method in patients with complicated acute calculus obstructive uropathy. Methods: We undertook a retrospective evaluation of patients who presented with complicated obstructive calculus uropathy (acute renal failure or obstructive pyelonephritis) between January 2016 and January 2020. Patients in whom there was failure to visualize ipsilateral ureteric orifice and those with extrinsic ureteral obstruction were excluded. Patient demographics and radiological data including stone site, hydronephrosis grade, maximum transverse stone diameter, periureteral density (PUD) and pericalcular ureteric thickness (P-CUT) at the maximum transverse stone diameter were assessed using non-contrast computed tomography at the time of admission. Results: The study included 256 patients who were managed initially by RUS trial. Of them, 48 (18.8 %) had RUS failure. The presence of acute pyelonephritis, increased maximum transverse stone diameter ≥ 9.5 mm, P-CUT ≥ 7.5 mm, and PUD at stone level ≥ 17.5 HU were risk factors associated with RUS failure (P = 0.007, 0.002, < 0.001, and < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Initial radiological stone and ureteric characteristics, in addition to the clinical diagnosis of obstructive pyelonephritis, can be used to determine PCN insertion as the preferred option over RUS for urinary drainage.

Introduction: Some patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) have supranormal differential renal function (snDRF). We aimed to study the outcomes of pyeloplasty in adult patients with UPJO and either snDRF or normal differential renal function (nDRF) and to identify preoperative factors responsible for the snDRF phenomenon. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively retrieved data for all patients who underwent pyeloplasty and had snDRF (differential renal function [DRF] ≥55%) and nDRF (DRF between 45 and 55%) preoperatively. Preoperative radiological data using computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging were correlated with the presence of snDRF phenomenon. In addition, scintigraphic findings pre- and post-operatively were also assessed to evaluate the functional outcomes. Results: Of a total of 856 patients, 31 had snDRF (group 1) and 42 had nDRF (group 2). After a mean of 37 months’ follow-up in Group 1, 22 patients developed DRF reduction with non-obstructive pattern. Mean DRF % decreased from 59 ± 2.8 to 48 ± 13 ( P < 0.0001). However, in Group 2, five patients had DRF decrease. Four patients developed snDRF phenomenon postoperatively. Increased renal pelvis volume ≥50 mm 3 and increased anteroposterior pelvic diameter (APD) ≥37 mm were found to predict snDRF phenomenon. The same findings, in addition to preoperative snDRF, correlated with postoperative DRF decrease. Conclusion: SnDRF function could be expected in patients with increased renal pelvis volume and APD. The absolute value or changes in DRF are not reliable to judge treatment failure.

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Background Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is one of the most serious urologic emergency which should be diagnosed and treated adequately to prevent impending septic shock and death. Computed tomography (CT) is the gold standard radiologic modality for diagnosis, grading and predicting the outcome. We aimed in this study to define the initial CT radiological findings correlated with EPN conservative management success. Results This study involved 54 patients (42 women and 12 males) with a mean age of 48 ± 10 years. EPN grades I, II, III, and IV were noticed in 12, 17, 20, and 5 patients, respectively. Ten patients (18.5%) received successful conservative management. On the other hand, renal drainage was needed in 42 patients (77.8%). Delayed nephrectomy was required in two cases (3.7%). In univariate and multivariate analyses, the absence of hydronephrosis and decreased air locules volume were predictors of conservative treatment success (P = 0.003 and 0.01, respectively). Conclusions Conservative therapy should be selected in certain patients of emphysematous pyelonephritis. Decreased air locules volume and the absence of hydronephrosis in pre-admission computed tomography were predictors for conservative therapy success.