Ultrasound for Men's Urological Conditions
From kidney stones to urinary retention, ultrasound is the first-line imaging investigation for most urological symptoms in men — no radiation, no referral, results the same day.
- Men's Health
- Updated July 2026
Urological Conditions Diagnosed by Ultrasound
| Condition | Symptoms | What Ultrasound Shows |
|---|---|---|
| Kidney stones (renal calculi) | Loin pain, haematuria, urinary frequency | Echogenic foci with posterior shadowing; hydronephrosis if obstructing |
| Hydronephrosis | Loin pain, reduced urine output | Dilated renal pelvis and calyces |
| Renal cysts | Often incidental; occasionally loin discomfort | Anechoic, thin-walled cysts; classified by Bosniak criteria |
| Renal tumour | Often incidental; haematuria; loin pain | Solid or complex mass within the renal parenchyma |
| Bladder wall thickening | Urinary frequency, urgency, incomplete emptying | Irregular or thickened bladder wall |
| Urinary retention | Difficulty urinating, incomplete emptying | Elevated post-void residual bladder volume |
| Prostate enlargement (BPH) | Urinary frequency, weak stream, nocturia | Enlarged prostate on transabdominal scan; elevated post-void residual |
Which Scan Do You Need?
For urological symptoms, the appropriate scan depends on the specific symptom:
- Loin pain, haematuria, or suspected kidney stones: Kidneys, Ureters & Bladder (KUB) Scan — £235
- Urinary symptoms (frequency, urgency, incomplete emptying): Kidneys, Ureters & Bladder (KUB) Scan — £235 — includes post-void residual measurement
- Abdominal pain with urological symptoms: Upper Abdominal Ultrasound Scan — £235
- Comprehensive assessment: Men's Full Body Scan — £785 — includes kidneys, bladder, prostate assessment, abdominal organs, and cardiovascular screening
From Our Practice
The most common urological presentation in our male patient casebook is a man with intermittent loin pain who suspects kidney stones. The scan either confirms the stones — showing echogenic foci with posterior shadowing and, where obstructing, hydronephrosis — or it excludes them and points toward a different cause. In either case, the patient leaves with a clear answer and a written report that their GP can act on.
The second pattern is urinary symptoms — frequency, urgency, a weak stream, or a feeling of incomplete emptying — in men over 50. These symptoms are often attributed to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) without investigation. A KUB scan measures the post-void residual volume (the amount of urine remaining in the bladder after urination) and assesses the kidneys for any secondary effects of bladder outflow obstruction. It does not diagnose prostate cancer — that requires PSA testing and, where indicated, MRI — but it provides the structural information that the GP needs to manage the symptoms appropriately.
Observations above are drawn from composite patterns across our patient population, not from any individual case.
Book a Urological Ultrasound Scan
£235 · Same-day appointments · No GP referral needed · Verbal results in the room · Written report the same day
29 Weymouth Street, Marylebone, London W1G 7DB | 020 3633 4902
