Radiology of the Urinary Tract

Five years is a long time in radiology, and the pace of change in imaging has even quickened since the prior edition of this text. The increasing availability and technical capability of cross-sectional modalities such computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound (US) now dominate imaging of the urinary system with multide-tector (spiral) CT having the greatest impact. In our depart-ment, CT is called the “temple of truth” for good reason. These cross-sectional modalities have essentially eliminated the intravenous pyelogram (IVP), which after 70 years of being the backbone of urinary tract imaging, has had its epi-taph written, and has little if any role in modern-day urinary imaging. The result of these progressive advances in imaging continues to be improved, earlier, and more accurate diagno-sis of genitourinary tract disease.