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Current Urology Reports
Published in: Current Urology Reports 5/2018

01-05-2018 | Pediatric Urology (D Weiss, Section Editor)

The Role of Non-invasive Testing in Evaluation and Diagnosis of Pediatric Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction

Authors: Jason P. Van Batavia, Andrew J. Combs

Published in: Current Urology Reports | Issue 5/2018

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The symptoms of lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) including urinary incontinence, frequency, and urgency are among the most common reasons children are referred to pediatric urologists. Despite this, the workup for LUTD is often time consuming and a source of frustration for patients, parents, and clinicians alike. In the current review, we summarize the important role non-invasive testing plays in the diagnosis and management of children with LUTD and to show how use of these tests can help avoid the need for more invasive testing in the majority of children.

Recent Findings

Non-invasive tests such urine studies, uroflowmetry ± simultaneous electromyography, assessment of post-void residual, renal/bladder ultrasound, and pelvic ultrasound when used appropriately can provide valuable information to facilitate decision making during the evaluation of children with LUTD. While these tests should be employed prior to more invasive testing such as urodynamic studies, they can often act as a surrogate for the more invasive tests.

Summary

Non-invasive tests can help us in our goal of improving diagnostic ability to better classify the child’s LUTD into an actual condition which allows targeted treatment in the hope of better outcomes and more satisfied patients and families.
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Metadata
Title
The Role of Non-invasive Testing in Evaluation and Diagnosis of Pediatric Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction
Authors
Jason P. Van Batavia
Andrew J. Combs
Publication date
01-05-2018
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Urology Reports / Issue 5/2018
Print ISSN: 1527-2737
Electronic ISSN: 1534-6285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-018-0784-1

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