Are radiological studies necessary for UTIs?
Radiology studies are unnecessary for evaluation of most patients with UTIs; however, in certain cases they may be useful to determine if further intervention is necessary and to find the cause of the complicated infection. Examples of such cases are: UTI associated with possible urinary traction obstruction; persistent UTI (pyelonephritis) unresponsive to medication after one week, patients with papillary necrosis, diabetes, on dialysis, T.B., proteus or fungal infection; or persistent-recurrent UTIs. Patients with persistent pyelonephritis often have perinephritic or renal abscesses.
