Cystoscopy Cystoscopy is a test for visualizing the interior lining of the bladder and the urethra. The cystoscope is a thin, lighted viewing instrument that is inserted into the urethra and bladder under anesthesia. It allows the doctor to look at areas of the bladder and urethra that usually do not show up well on X-rays. Cystoscopy is usually done by a urologist, a physician specializing in the urinary system. Cystoscopy may be indicated for a variety of problems and purposes. The patient may have blood in his or her urine (hematuria), painful urination (dysuria), a history of recurrent urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence, urinary frequency or hesitancy, difficulty passing urine (retention), and/or a sudden urgent need to urinate (urgency). Cystoscopy may also be done for determining the extent of blockage caused by an enlarged prostate. Another indication would be to further evaluate problems detected by other tests such as kidney stones or tumors. Biopsies of tissue samples and urine from the kidneys can be obtained from tiny surgical instruments that are advanced through the cystoscope. This also permits the removal of small urinary tract stones, tumors, or growths, removal of foreign bodies, treatment of bleeding in the bladder, and elimination of obstructions in the urethra. Cystoscopy can be used to place ureteral catheters (stents) to help urine flow from the kidneys. Cystoscopy can be done to place a catheter in the ureter for an X-ray dye test called retrograde pyelography for outlining the ureter and the inside of the kidney. In short, cystoscopy can prevent the need for more invasive and extensive procedures and surgery. Cystoscopy is usually done under general anesthesia with the patient asleep. It may also be done under regional anesthesia (spinal or epidural) with the patient awake and numb from the waist down. Patients should consult their physician for a complete explanation of the procedure and its associated risks and complications.