Which test is used to visualize the urinary tract after contrast administration to assess anatomy and obstruction?

• A. Urinalysis (UA)
• B. Urography
• C. Cystography
• D. Renal scintigraphy

Answer: (B)

Visualizing the urinary tract after contrast to assess anatomy and obstruction is done with urography. This imaging approach injects iodinated contrast and takes a series of radiographs to outline the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. By tracing the contrast as it moves through the collecting system and down the ureters, you can see the shape and course of the tract and identify blockages or abnormalities that indicate obstruction, such as hydronephrosis, strictures, stones, or masses, as well as how well the system is draining.

Urinalysis is a lab test of urine components, not imaging. Cystography focuses on the bladder by introducing contrast directly into the bladder to look for bladder abnormalities and vesicoureteral reflux, rather than the entire urinary tract. Renal scintigraphy uses radioactive tracers to assess function and drainage, but it doesn’t provide the detailed anatomic outline of the urinary tract after contrast.