Renal/urology Flashcards
What is sterile pyuria?
A urine dip positive for leucocytes, or leucocytes seen on microscopy - but no bacteria grown on culture.
What are the features of epididymal cyst?
- palpated separately to the testes
- transilluminates
What is a spermatocele?
- fluid, filled cyst
like an epididymal cyst, it is palpated separately to the testes - fluctuant, cystic
- usually asymptomatic
- milky fluid on aspiration
What is a positive Prehn’s sign?
- helps you to identify cause of testicular pain
- Lifting up the scrotum relieves the pain
- Positive - associated with epididymitis
What is the cremasteric reflex?
Stroke the inner medial thigh below the scrotum causes the ipsilateral testicle (same side) to retract/pull up
- ABSENT in testicular torsion
Key features of Epididymitis?
- unilateral painful, swollen testicle
- fever
- dysuria
- urinary frequency
- urethral discharge
- US shows increased blood flow
- PREHN’S SIGN POSITIVE
What are the key features of testicular torsion
- SUDDEN ONSET, painful, unilateral testicle
- nausea and vomiting
- abdominal pain
- testicle may appear in horizontal position or high riding
- Prehn’s sign is negative
- cremasteric reflex ABSENT
how do you diagnose testicular torsion?
Ultrasound however not to delay if high clinical suspicion- urgent surgical scrotal exploration
What is appendix testes and appendix epididymis?
The appendix testis is a small appendage of that is usually located on the upper pole between the testis and epididymis
The appendix epididymis is a small appendage on the top of the epididymis
They are embryological remnants and don’t serve any function, like the appendix.
They can both develop torsion, but appendix testis is more likely to.
What are the main features of appendix testis torsion?
- symptoms are similar to testicular torsion but onset may be more gradual
- pain and tenderness is often localized to the upper pole of the testis or epididymis.
- however for torsions of either appendages, the presentation is usually in pre-pubertal boys (whereas testicular torsion more commonly occurs in adolescent boys)
- blue dot sign
- cremasteric reflex usually intact
What is the management of torsion of the tetsicular appendages?
conservative management
The testicular appendage tends to calcify and degenerate over two weeks
What are the main causes of acute scrotal pain to know?
- epididymitis
- testicular torsion
- appendix testis torsion
What is the blue dot sign?
- can be seen in testicular appendix torsion
- Torsion –> ischaemia of the appendage –> appears as a blue dot underneath the skin
What is the most common cause of epididymitis?
- Most common cause overall: E.coli
- Young, sexually active - chlamydia/gonorrheoa
What is a hydrocele?
- fluid accumulates between the visceral and parietal layers of the tunica vaginalis
- this is caused by incomplete closure of the processus vaginalis
- can be classified into communicating and non-communicating
- communicating with the peritoneal cavity or does not communicate with the peritoneal cavity
What are the key features of hydrocele?
- usually asymptomatic
- can be unilateral or bilateral
- painless, swelling of scrotum
- feels like a water balloon
- TRANSILLUMINATES
- most commonly presents in infants (congenital)
- in adults it is usually idiopathic
What is a varicocele?
dilatation of the pampiniform venous plexus
What are the key symptoms of varicocele?
- Usually on the left side
- feels like a bag of worms
- dragging sensation
- disappears on lying down (drains)
- DOES NOT TRANSILLUMINATE
- can lead to infertility due to increasing scrotal temperature
What is the difference between the drainage of the left and right testicles?
right testicular veins drain directly into the IVC
Left testicular veins drain into the left renal vein which then drains into the IVC
What is the cause of Varicocele?
- primary - idiopathic
- obstruction of the renal veins due to renal tumour or thrombosis
What are the clinical findings of a testicular tumour
- painless swelling
- does NOT transilluminate as it is solid
What is cryptorchidism
- Undescended testes
- Three percent of males will be born with an undescended testicle. Most of these will descend within the first months of life, and no treatment is indicated.
- Rarely, physiologic descent does not occur, and surgery is indicated to prevent complications such as reduced fertility or testicular cancer.
Cryptorchidism increases the risk of what?
increased risk of
- Testicular cancer
- infertility
- torsion
what is a penile fracture?
Traumatic rupture of corpus cavernosum - urological emergency
what are the symptoms of a penile fracture?
- snapping sound followed by swelling and bruising of the penis
- eggplant appearance - due to swelling and discolouration
what is the cause of mechanism of contrast induced nephropathy?
acute tubular necrosis
On what chromosome is the mutation involved in PCKD?
PKD1 on chromosome 16 (85%
PKD 2 on chromosome 4 (15%)
What is the inheritance of PCKD?
Autosomal dominant
What are the key features of PCKD?
- cysts on the kidneys bilaterally - palpable masses in the flanks
- haematuria (due to cyst rupture)
- Intracranial berry aneurysms - can lead to SAH
- increased risk of colonic diverticula
- increased risk of renal cell carcinoma
- mitral valve prolpase
- hypetension
- progressive kidney failure
- benign hepatic cysts
what are some causes of a raised PSA?
- old age
- acute urinary retention
- catheterisation
- BPH
- prostatitis
- prostate cancer
What are the causes of urethral injuries?
Can be classified into
- posterior urethral injury - affecting the prostatic and membranous portion of the urethra - typically due to RTA causing pelvic fractures
- anterior - affecting the urethra distal to the membranous region - typically due to straddle injuries or direct blunt trauma
What are the symptoms of urethral injury?
- blood at the urethral meatus
- acute urinary retention
- palpable bladder
- Scrotal or perineal haematoma/bruising
- high riding prostate on DRE
What is the most common cause of bladder rupture?
Usually due to blunt trauma (such as RTA) + are associated with pelvic fracture in most cases.
What are the two types of bladder rupture?
extraperitoneal - more common (80%)
- associated with pelvis fracture
- typically occurs at base of bladder
- Mx: short term Foley catheter to allow bladder to heal
Intraperitoneal bladder rupute
- Less common -20%
- Associated with direct blow onto distended bladder
- typically occurs at bladder dome
- can lead to peritonitis
- Mx: surgical as will typically not heal with just a catheter
What investigation do you do if you suspect bladder rupture?
CT cystogram
What are the symptoms of bladder rupture?
- usually History of blunt force trauma
- haematuria
- difficulty voiding
- suprapubic pain
What is Wilm’s tumour?
- malignancy that occurs in childhood - nephroblastoma
- malignant proliferation of metanephric blastema cells (primitive embryologic cells in the kidney)
- rare, but the most common primary renal tumour in children
- typical onset age 2-4 years old
How does Wilm’s tumour present
- palpable abdominal mass
- hypertension (cells may secret renin)
- fever due to tumour necrosis
- haematuria
What is the most common type of renal cancer?
Renal cell carcinoma (80%)
Of the 3 subtypes, clear cell is the most common
What is the other less common types of renal cancer?
Transitional cell carcinoma (occurs in the renal pelvis), Wilm’s tumour, sarcoma or benign tumours
What is the most common risk factor for renal cell carcinoma?
smoking
What paraneoplastic syndrome is associated with RCC?
Cells secrete EPO which can lead to secondary polycythemia (high RBCs)
Can also get hypercalaemia
Unlike most other cancers, how does RCC spread?
Haematogenously - via the renal vein which drains into the IVC
Most cancers spread via the lymphatic system