English for Urology: Essential Vocabulary & Phrases

"renal pelvis"

The funnel-shaped cavity at the centre of the kidney that collects urine from the calyces before it drains into the ureter

"The CT scan revealed a 12 mm calculus lodged at the junction of the renal pelvis and the ureteropelvic junction."

"ureteropelvic junction"

The point where the renal pelvis narrows to become the ureter, a common site for obstruction and stone impaction

"Hydronephrosis was caused by a congenital ureteropelvic junction obstruction requiring pyeloplasty."

"detrusor muscle"

The smooth muscle of the bladder wall that contracts during voiding to expel urine and relaxes during filling to accommodate it

"Urodynamic testing demonstrated overactivity of the detrusor muscle consistent with an overactive bladder diagnosis."

"trigone"

A smooth triangular region on the inner surface of the bladder base bounded by the two ureteral orifices and the internal urethral meatus

"Cystoscopy showed erythema and irregularity of the trigone, raising suspicion for carcinoma in situ."

"prostatic urethra"

The segment of the urethra that passes through the prostate gland and is the most common site of benign prostatic obstruction

"TURP was performed to relieve the outflow obstruction caused by benign enlargement compressing the prostatic urethra."

"seminal vesicle"

One of a pair of glands posterior to the bladder that produces a fructose-rich secretion contributing the majority of semen volume

"MRI staging demonstrated invasion of the left seminal vesicle, upgrading the prostate cancer to stage T3b."

"renal cortex"

The outer layer of the kidney containing the glomeruli and proximal and distal convoluted tubules responsible for filtration and reabsorption

"Ultrasound showed thinning of the renal cortex bilaterally, consistent with chronic kidney disease and cortical scarring."

"external urethral sphincter"

The voluntary skeletal muscle ring surrounding the urethra below the prostate that provides continence control

"Preservation of the external urethral sphincter during radical prostatectomy is critical for postoperative continence."

"prostate-specific antigen"

A glycoprotein enzyme produced by the prostate gland measured in the blood as a marker for prostate cancer detection and monitoring

"The patient's prostate-specific antigen rose from 4.2 to 9.8 ng/mL over twelve months, prompting a multiparametric MRI."

"urodynamics"

A group of functional tests that measure how the bladder and urethra store and release urine under controlled filling and voiding conditions

"Urodynamics confirmed detrusor overactivity with low compliance, guiding the decision for anticholinergic therapy."

"cystoscopy"

A minimally invasive endoscopic procedure in which a flexible or rigid camera is passed into the bladder through the urethra to examine its interior

"Flexible cystoscopy revealed a 2 cm papillary lesion on the right lateral wall of the bladder requiring resection."

"multiparametric MRI"

An advanced MRI technique combining anatomical and functional sequences to detect and characterise prostate cancer before or in addition to biopsy

"The multiparametric MRI identified a PI-RADS 4 lesion in the right posterior peripheral zone, which was targeted at biopsy."

"uroflowmetry"

A non-invasive test that measures the rate and pattern of urine flow during voiding to assess for bladder outlet obstruction

"Uroflowmetry demonstrated a maximum flow rate of 8 mL/s with a plateau pattern consistent with urethral stricture."

"renal function tests"

Blood and urine analyses including serum creatinine, eGFR, and urine protein used to assess how well the kidneys are filtering and excreting waste

"Renal function tests showed a creatinine of 248 µmol/L and eGFR of 22 mL/min, indicating stage 4 chronic kidney disease."

"CT urogram"

A specialised CT scan of the urinary tract performed with and without contrast to detect stones, tumours, and structural abnormalities from kidneys to bladder

"The CT urogram identified a 3 cm left renal pelvis transitional cell carcinoma not visible on standard ultrasound."

"post-void residual"

The volume of urine remaining in the bladder immediately after voiding, measured by ultrasound bladder scan as an indicator of incomplete emptying

"A post-void residual of 280 mL confirmed incomplete bladder emptying caused by benign prostatic enlargement."

"benign prostatic hyperplasia"

Non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland that compresses the urethra and causes lower urinary tract symptoms in older men

"Alpha-blocker therapy was initiated to manage the lower urinary tract symptoms caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia."

"urolithiasis"

The formation of calculi (stones) anywhere within the urinary tract, including the kidneys, ureters, and bladder

"The patient presented with classic renal colic due to urolithiasis, with a 6 mm calculus in the left ureter on CT."

"bladder cancer"

Malignant growth most commonly arising from the urothelium lining the bladder, classified as non-muscle-invasive or muscle-invasive

"TURBT confirmed high-grade non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, and intravesical BCG immunotherapy was commenced."

"stress urinary incontinence"

Involuntary leakage of urine during physical exertion such as coughing, sneezing, or exercise due to inadequate urethral sphincter support

"A mid-urethral sling procedure was offered to the woman after conservative management failed to control stress urinary incontinence."

"renal cell carcinoma"

The most common malignant tumour of the kidney in adults, arising from tubular epithelial cells and often discovered incidentally on imaging

"A 4 cm enhancing renal cell carcinoma of the right kidney was treated by robot-assisted partial nephrectomy."

"overactive bladder"

A syndrome of urinary urgency, usually with increased frequency and nocturia, caused by involuntary detrusor contractions during bladder filling

"After lifestyle modifications failed, the patient with overactive bladder was prescribed a beta-3 agonist to reduce urgency."

"urethral stricture"

Narrowing of the urethra due to scar tissue formation from infection, instrumentation, or trauma, impeding urine flow

"Urethroplasty was performed using a buccal mucosal graft to repair the recurrent urethral stricture."

"hydronephrosis"

Distension and dilatation of the renal pelvis and calyces caused by obstruction to urinary outflow or vesicoureteral reflux

"Bilateral hydronephrosis secondary to malignant ureteral obstruction required emergency nephrostomy tube insertion."

"transurethral resection of the prostate"

An endoscopic procedure in which prostatic tissue is resected using an electrosurgical loop passed through the urethra to relieve bladder outlet obstruction

"Transurethral resection of the prostate resulted in a significant improvement in flow rate and symptom score at three months."

"radical prostatectomy"

Surgical removal of the entire prostate gland, seminal vesicles, and pelvic lymph nodes as curative treatment for localised prostate cancer

"Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy was performed with nerve sparing to preserve erectile function in the low-risk patient."

"nephrectomy"

Surgical removal of a kidney, performed as a radical procedure for renal cancer or as a partial nephrectomy to preserve nephrons

"A laparoscopic radical nephrectomy was completed without complication for the 7 cm renal cell carcinoma."

"ureteroscopy"

An endoscopic technique using a flexible or semi-rigid ureteroscope passed through the urethra and bladder into the ureter to treat stones or tumours

"Flexible ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy successfully fragmented and extracted the 8 mm proximal ureteral stone."

"percutaneous nephrolithotomy"

A minimally invasive procedure to remove large kidney stones through a puncture created directly into the kidney through the skin under imaging guidance

"A staghorn calculus filling the renal pelvis was cleared in a single session of percutaneous nephrolithotomy."

"radical cystectomy"

Surgical removal of the bladder, prostate, and seminal vesicles in men (or bladder, uterus, and anterior vaginal wall in women) for muscle-invasive bladder cancer

"Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was followed by robot-assisted radical cystectomy with ileal conduit urinary diversion."

"shock wave lithotripsy"

A non-invasive outpatient procedure that uses focused acoustic shock waves delivered from outside the body to fragment urinary tract calculi

"A 10 mm renal pelvis stone in a patient with no obstruction was treated successfully with shock wave lithotripsy."

"artificial urinary sphincter"

A three-component prosthetic device surgically implanted to treat male stress urinary incontinence by mechanically occluding the bulbar urethra

"The artificial urinary sphincter was implanted twelve months after radical prostatectomy once continence had stabilised."

"Gleason score"

A grading system for prostate cancer based on the microscopic architectural patterns of tumour glands, scored from 6 to 10 with higher scores indicating more aggressive disease

"Biopsy pathology returned a Gleason score of 4+3=7, classifying the prostate cancer as ISUP grade group 3."

"TNM staging"

The international system classifying cancer extent by primary tumour size and invasion (T), regional lymph node involvement (N), and distant metastasis (M)

"TNM staging of the bladder cancer revealed T2N0M0 disease, indicating muscle invasion without nodal or distant spread."

"androgen deprivation therapy"

Treatment that reduces testosterone to castrate levels to suppress prostate cancer growth, achieved through surgical or medical castration

"Androgen deprivation therapy was initiated alongside radiotherapy for the locally advanced prostate cancer."

"intravesical BCG"

An immunotherapy treatment instilled directly into the bladder using live attenuated Mycobacterium bovis to prevent recurrence of high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer

"Six-weekly induction intravesical BCG instillations were followed by three-year maintenance therapy to reduce recurrence risk."

"active surveillance"

A management strategy for low-risk localised prostate cancer involving regular PSA checks, MRI, and repeat biopsies to monitor for progression before treating

"The patient with Gleason 6 prostate cancer opted for active surveillance and has remained on protocol for four years without progression."

"brachytherapy"

A form of internal radiation therapy in which radioactive seeds are implanted directly into the prostate gland to deliver a high local radiation dose

"Low-dose-rate brachytherapy with iodine-125 seeds was selected as monotherapy for the patient's low-risk prostate cancer."

"lymph node dissection"

Surgical removal of pelvic lymph nodes at the time of radical prostatectomy or cystectomy to assess for microscopic metastatic spread

"Extended lymph node dissection during radical prostatectomy revealed two of twelve nodes containing micrometastatic disease."

"castration-resistant prostate cancer"

Prostate cancer that continues to progress despite castrate levels of testosterone, requiring second-line hormonal agents or chemotherapy

"The patient developed castration-resistant prostate cancer and was commenced on enzalutamide after radiological progression."

"lower urinary tract symptoms"

A collective term for voiding and storage symptoms including hesitancy, poor stream, frequency, urgency, and nocturia

"The patient scored 18 on the IPSS, indicating moderate lower urinary tract symptoms from benign prostatic enlargement."

"haematuria"

The presence of blood in the urine, classified as macroscopic (visible) or microscopic (detected only on dipstick or microscopy)

"Painless macroscopic haematuria in a 65-year-old male mandates urgent cystoscopy and upper tract imaging to exclude malignancy."

"renal colic"

A severe, colicky flank pain radiating to the groin caused by a calculus obstructing the ureter and producing ureteral spasm

"The patient presented to the emergency department with classic renal colic and a urine dipstick showing 3+ blood."

"voiding diary"

A patient-completed record of fluid intake, voiding times, volumes, and episodes of urgency or leakage used to quantify and characterise lower urinary tract symptoms

"The three-day voiding diary revealed eight voids per day with two episodes of urgency incontinence, confirming overactive bladder."

"continence"

The ability to maintain voluntary control of bladder and bowel function, and a key functional outcome measured after urological surgery

"Full continence, defined as zero pads per day, was achieved by 78% of patients twelve months after radical prostatectomy."

"erectile dysfunction"

The persistent inability to achieve or maintain a penile erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse

"Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor therapy was prescribed for erectile dysfunction following nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy."

"nephrostomy"

A percutaneous tube inserted through the skin into the renal pelvis to drain obstructed urine when the normal urinary pathway is blocked

"An emergency nephrostomy was placed to decompress the infected, obstructed kidney and allow sepsis to resolve before definitive surgery."

"multidisciplinary team meeting"

A regular clinical conference at which specialists from urology, oncology, radiology, and pathology review complex cases to agree on treatment plans

"The case was discussed at the multidisciplinary team meeting and surgery was recommended over radiotherapy given the patient's age and fitness."