Urology is the medical
field that deals with the study, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of the
urinary track and the male reproductive system. The discipline involves both
surgical and non surgical treatment procedures. A wide knowledge in internal
medicine, nephrology, gynecology, andrology and oncology is necessary to treat
urological problems. This is because of the interrelation of urology with
these medical specialties.
Urology is considered one
of the first specialties to become a separate branch in medicine. This field
of medicine was popular even in the ancient days and is mentioned in the
original Greek text version of Hippocratic Oath, which deals with the mystery
of treating various illnesses. Moreover, the physicians in ancient Egypt performed suprapubic
cystotomy (a surgical procedure) on patients suffering from urological
problems such as enlarged prostrates and bladder stones.
Urology is mainly divided
into seven subspecialty areas. They are pediatric and female urology,
neurourology, renal transplantation, urologic oncology, calculi or urinary
track stones, and male infertility. The various organs in the human body for
study are the kidneys, urethra,
ureters,
urinary bladder, and the male reproductive organs such as testes, penis,
prostrate, vas deferens,
epididymis,
and seminal vesicles.
There are a number of
techniques and procedures available for diagnosing urological problems. Urine
and semen analysis, prostate fluid examination, and biochemical serum study
are included in the diagnostic procedures. Some of the imaging techniques to
monitor the internal functioning are ultrasound, CT and MRI scanning,
radiology, and radioisotope imaging. Urodynamics is a group of tests to
identify the problems in the lower regions of the urinary tract. At least a
minimum of cystoscope and resectosope are the instruments needed for
diagnosis.
Urology has different
treatment modalities, depending on the type of disease. Extracorporeal shock
wave lithotripsy treatment is done to remove kidney stones. Transurethral
resection of the prostate (TURP) is done for patients suffering from benign
prostate hypertrophy (BPH). Treatment options such as laser and laparoscopic
surgery are also available for urological problems.
