Radiology, Vol 151, 471-473, Copyright © 1984 by Radiological Society of North America
Catheter-induced cystitis: evaluation by cystosonography
MM Abu-Yousef, AS Narayana and RC Brown
The bladders of 23 patients with indwelling catheters were examined by
ultrasound and cystoscopy. Twelve of the 23 showed changes consistent with
bullous cystitis, a catheter-induced reaction of the bladder mucosa that
may simulate a bladder tumor on intravenous urography and sonography. The
changes seen included a thickened mucosa that was smooth in the early
stages, becoming redundant and polypoid in later stages. The mucosa was
usually hypoechoic and the lesions were localized on the posterior wall or
were diffuse and more severe, depending on the length of catheterization.
It is concluded that the sonographic findings in the appropriate clinical
setting are suggestive of this entity. Although cystoscopy is not often
indicated, cystoscopic findings are diagnostic and biopsy is, therefore,
unnecessary.
