CT and MRI in Urinary Tract Infections: A Spectrum of Different Imaging Findings

Abstract

There are many acute and chronic infections affecting the urinary tract including bacterial, fungal and viral infections. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can present in many different patterns with variable degrees of severity varying from asymptomatic and uncomplicated forms to life threatening complicated infections. Cross-sectional imaging techniques—including both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)—have become very important tools not only for evaluation of UTIs, but also for detection of associated complications. Selection of either CT or MRI in the UTI evaluation depends on several factors such as the presence of contraindication, experience, cost and availability. CT and MRI help in early detection and management of UTIs that reduce the prevalence and severity of complications. In this article we will present the radiologic findings at CT and MRI in different types of upper and lower UTIs including acute pyelonephritis, intrarenal and perinephric abscesses, pyonephrosis, chronic pyelonephritis, emphysematous UTIs, xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis, tuberculosis (TB), bilharziasis, fungal infection, corynebacterium infection, ureteritis, cystitis, prostatitis, prostatic abscess and urethritis.

The Diagnostic Deceiver: Radiological Pictorial Review of Tuberculosis

“…TB should be considered in patients with sterile hematuria and persistent cystitis. A CT provides high- quality images to diagnose urinary tract infections including TB, and MRI is used as a problem solving imaging modality if a CT is not diagnostic [ 53 ].…”

Pneumaturia and faecaluria: Symptoms leading to a life-saving diagnosis

“…In colovesical fistula, only indirect contrast visualization is applicable. CT scan can portray endoluminal air, mural thickening, mucosal hyperemia, tethering of adjacent thick-walled bowel as well as the presence of pericolic fat streakiness [ 8 ]. Magnetic resonance imaging is superior to CT scan as the fistula can be visualized at T2–WI with fat suppression sequence and detect a coexisting abscess via DWI with high specificity [8].…”

Point-of-Care Biosensing of Urinary Tract Infections Employing Optoplasmonic Surfaces Embedded with Metal Nanotwins

“…The nitrate test using urinalysis dipsticks is a rapid test and an indirect test to detect the presence of any microorganisms in the urine sample and thus does not reveal the identity of the microorganism present . The frequent recurrence of a UTI in a patient is diagnosed by imaging the urinary tract using ultrasonography, a computerized tomography (CT) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) . Another method used for imaging a severe infection is cystoscopy, where a thin tube with a camera and light on the end is inserted into the urethra to the urinary bladder to diagnose the extent of the infection …”