• Description: A rare disease that originates in the adrenal glands, located on top of the kidneys, which can increase hormone production.
• Symptoms: Fever, abdominal mass, persistent abdominal pain, sensation of abdominal "fullness," and weight loss.
• Diagnosis: Involves taking a medical history and performing a physical examination, blood and urine tests (to detect elevated levels of hormones), imaging tests (MRI and CT Scan), and a biopsy.

Bladder Cancer

• Description:  Accounts for approximately 90% of cancers of the urinary tract.
• Symptoms:  Blood in the urine, frequent urination, and painful urination.
• Diagnosis: Urological tests (Urinalysis, Urine cytology, Urine culture), imaging tests, and a complete medical history.
• Treatment:  Options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy, but depends on the stage of the disease and patient's age and health.

Overactive Bladder

• Description: The muscles surrounding the bladder contract spastically which results in high bladder pressure and the urgent need to urinate.
• Symptoms: Frequent urination, urgent need to urinate, and strong need to urinate followed by leaking or involuntary and complete voiding called Urge Incontinence.
• Diagnosis: Complete medical history, physical examination; urine sample test, and one or more of the following diagnostic procedures: urinalysis, urodynamic testing, cystoscopy, and imaging tests (i.e. x-rays and ultrasound).
• Treatment:  Bladder training, medication, and surgery.

Enlarged Prostate

• Description:  Prostate growth due to cell multiplication which may involve hormones. It is also called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.
• Symptoms:  Blood in the urine, frequent urination, un-empty feeling and dribbling after urination, urine leakage, straining to begin urination, weak urine stream, and the urgent need to urinate of urine.
• Diagnosis:  A physical examination, patient history, and evaluation of symptoms.
• Treatment:  Medications, stents, minimally invasive treatments (e.g. thermotherapy), and surgery.

Erectile Dysfunction

• Description:  The inability of a man to achieve or maintain an erection.
• Diagnosis:  Medical examination, medical history, and laboratory tests.
• Treatment:  Sex therapy, medication, and surgery.

Epididymitis/Orchitis

• Description:  The inflammation of the testicles.
• Symptoms:  Severe, sudden pain in the testicular area.
• Diagnosis:  Medical examination, medical history.
• Treatment:  Involves treating the underlying cause with medication and surgery.

Hematuria

• Description:  The presence of blood in the urine.
• Symptoms:  Blood in the urine, abdominal pain, increased frequency and urgency, decreased force, hesitancy, and incomplete emptying during urination.
• Diagnosis:  Urine sample testing, x-ray, ultrasound, or CAT scan.
• Treatment:  Depends on the underlying cause, but may include medications or surgery.

Hydrocele

• Description:  An abnormal fluid-filled sac around the testes that causes the scrotum to swell.
• Symptoms:  The main symptom is swelling in the scrotum and is typically painless. However, some adult men may feel discomfort.
• Diagnosis:  Physical examination and ultrasound.
• Treatment:  Most cases resolve without medical treatment, but if the condition worsens aspiration and surgery are possible treatment plans.

Incontinence

• Description:  Loss of urinary control.
• Symptoms:  Loss of urinary control.
• Diagnosis:  A complete medical history, physical examination; urinalysis, urodynamic, endoscopic, and imaging tests (i.e. x-rays and ultrasound).
• Treatment:  Depends on the cause of the incontinence. If the cause is related to physical activity and increased abdominal pressure, the treatment options include: injectables, nonsurgical treatments, medications and surgery. If the cause is urgency or involuntary bladder contractions, the treatment options include medication, retraining exercises, and surgery. If the cause is due to problems completely emptying the bladder, the treatment options include medications, self-catheterization, and surgery.

Interstitial Cystitis

• Description:  A chronic inflammatory condition of the bladder that causes frequent, urgent, and painful urination.
• Symptoms:  Vary dramatically between patients, but typically include increased frequency of urination, discomfort during urination and sex, and the feeling of urgent need to urinate.
• Diagnosis:  The first step is to rule out other diseases which could cause similar symptoms with a urine culture or urinalysis. Then more specialized procedures are performed such as a cystoscopy to evaluate the bladder lining and wall. Cystoscopy: a procedure where the bladder is filled to capacity with water or gas thus allowing the doctor to examine the bladder wall. The physician looks for tiny hemorrhages, ulcers, lesions, and scars.
• Treatment:  There is no cure, but the goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms via medications, behavioral changes, stress management, dietary changes, and surgery.

Kidney Cancer

• Description:   Cancerous cell tumors in the lining of the kidney.
• Symptoms:  Abdominal lump, blood in the urine, fever, high blood pressure, pain in the side, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, and swelling in the ankles and legs.
• Diagnosis:  Physical examination, imaging tests (CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, x-ray, bone scan) and urinalysis, blood tests, Cystoscopy, and fine needle aspiration.
• Treatment:  Depends on the stage and overall health and age of the patient, but typically include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and/or immunotherapy.

Kidney Infection

• Description:   Not as common as other urinary tract infections, but typically are the result of a bacterial infection moving from the lower urinary tract to the kidneys.
• Symptoms:  The need to urinate more often, an inability to urinate, blood and or pus in the urine, changes in urine color or odor, back or abdominal pain, confusion, fatigue, fever, chills, night sweats, loss of appetite, nausea, and skin that is warm and/or moist, and reddened.
• Diagnosis:  Medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests including urine samples, and in some cases, imaging tests (e.g., x-rays, CT scan).
• Treatment:  Antibiotics, pain relievers, and plenty of fluids.

Kidney Stones

• Description:  Hardened mineral deposits that form in the kidney. The kidneys filter waste products from the blood and add them to the urine that the kidneys produce.
• Symptoms:  Blood in the urine, increased frequency of urination, nausea, pain during urination, tenderness in the abdomen and kidney region, and urinary tract infection.
• Diagnosis:  Medical history, physical examination, laboratory evaluation, and imaging tests (i.e. ultrasound, x-ray, and CT scan).
• Treatment:  Depends on the size and type of stone, the underlying cause, the presence of any urinary infection, and whether the condition recurs. If possible, the kidney stone is allowed to pass, but medications and surgery are options for larger stones.

Peyronie's Disease

• Description:  The formation of hardened tissue in the penis that causes pain, curvature, and distortion, usually during erection.
• Symptoms:  Hardened tissue, pain during erection, curve in the penis during erection, and distortion of the penis.
• Diagnosis:  Medical history and a physical examination.
• Treatment:  Treatment options are limited with the goal of reducing pain and maintaining sexual function, but surgery is an option.

Prostate Cancer

• Description:  A cancerous tumor on the prostate gland.
• Symptoms:  Blood in the urine or semen, frequent urination, inability to urinate, nagging pain or stiffness in the back, hips, upper thighs, or pelvis, painful ejaculation, pain or burning during urination, or weak or interrupted urinary flow.
• Diagnosis:  Digital rectal examination, Ttransrectal ultrasound, prostate-specific antigen test, prostatic acid phosphatase test.
• Treatment: Depends on the stage of the disease and the patient's age and overall health. Treatment options may include the following: hormone therapy, radiation therapy, and surgery.

Prostatitis

• Description:  Inflammation of the prostate gland.
• Symptoms:  Vary depending on if it is new or a cronic issue. Symptoms of acute bacterial prostatitis include: chills, fever, frequent urination, incomplete emptying of bladder, joint pain, lower back pain, muscle pain, pain in penis, testicles, and area between the scrotum and the rectum, painful ejaculation, painful urination, urgency, or tender, swollen prostate. The symptoms of chronic bacterial prostatitis include: blood in semen, discomfort in genital area, fever, lower back pain, pain in lower abdomen, painful ejaculation, and a recurring urinary tract infection.
• Diagnosis:  A digital rectal exam, and urinalysis.
• Treatment:  Medication.

Testicular Cancer

• Description:  Cancer that develops in the testicles.
• Symptoms:  Testicular cancer does not always produce symptoms. A mass or lump in the testicle is usually the first sign of the disease. The mass may or may not be painful. Other symptoms include testicular swelling, hardness, and a feeling of heaviness or aching in the scrotum or lower abdomen.
• Diagnosis:  Involves a patient history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests including ultrasound, CT scan, and blood tests.
• Treatment:  Depends on the stage of the disease, but surgery to remove the testicle is sometimes combined with radiation and/or chemotherapy.

Urinary Tract Infection

• Description:   Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a infection that occurs when bacteria enters and multipies in the urinary tract.
• Symptoms:  Symptoms vary depending on if it is a upper or lower UTI. Symptoms of lower UTI include:back pain, blood in the urine, cloudy urine, inability to urinate despite the urge, fever, frequent need to urinate, general discomfort, and painful urination. The symptoms that indicate an upper UTI include: chills, fever, nausea, and pain below the ribs.
• Diagnosis:  Urinalysis and a urine culture and sensitivity.
• Treatment: Bladder infections, kidney infections, and other urinary tract infections are most frequently treated with antibacterial drugs.

For more details on the University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center Comprehensive Urology Center or to schedule an appointment please call 440-285-7757.