Ultrasound of the Urinary Tract

Overview

4.6 out of 5 (22 Reviews)

Credits

1.00

Pharmacology Credits

0.0

Post-Assessment Questions

4

Start Date

1 Sep 2023

Last Review Date

14 Sep 2025

Expiration Date

31 Aug 2026

Estimated Time To Finish

60 Minutes


Unlimited Nurse Practitioner CE

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Activity Description

Ultrasound of the urinary tract is a versatile, noninvasive imaging modality widely used across emergency medicine, radiology, urology, nephrology, and general practice. This modality's safety profile, accessibility, and real-time capabilities make it a preferred first-line tool for evaluating the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. Trinary tract ultrasound plays a critical role in evaluating a broad spectrum of conditions, including nephrolithiasis, hydronephrosis, renal colic, testicular pain, urinary retention, hematuria, early kidney transplant rejection, and renal masses.

Ultrasonography is especially valuable in populations where radiation exposure needs to be minimized, such as children and pregnant women. This technique can be used to calculate the renal resistive index, which is very helpful in diagnosing renal colic, kidney transplant rejection, and acute kidney injury.

This activity provides a comprehensive review of the anatomy, indications, technique, interpretation, and limitations of urinary tract ultrasound. Learners examine both routine and complex findings, such as the grading and interpretation of hydronephrosis, detection of urinary tract calculi, evaluation of bladder function, and identification of renal lesions. The activity also explores modern advancements—including color Doppler, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, and micro-ultrasonography—and discusses the role of point-of-care ultrasound in time-sensitive settings.

Through participation in this activity, members of the interprofessional healthcare team enhance their understanding of urinary tract imaging and improve their ability to recognize sonographic patterns, communicate findings clearly, and collaborate in timely decision-making. Emphasis is placed on optimizing diagnostic accuracy, streamlining care pathways, and supporting high-quality, patient-centered outcomes.


Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, physician associates, nurses, pharmacists, and nurse practitioners.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the learner will be better able to:

  • Identify appropriate indications for performing urinary tract ultrasound across diverse clinical scenarios.

  • Implement optimized ultrasound techniques for accurate assessment of the urinary tract.

  • Differentiate between normal and abnormal urinary tract findings on ultrasound to guide accurate diagnosis and appropriate management.

  • Collaborate with members of the interprofessional healthcare team to coordinate timely diagnostic workup and management of urinary tract conditions using ultrasound findings to guide clinical decision-making.

Disclosures

StatPearls, LLC requires everyone who influences the content of an educational activity to disclose relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies that have occurred within the past 24 months. Ineligible companies are organizations whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. All relevant conflict(s) of interest have been mitigated. Hover over contributor names for financial disclosures. Others involved in planning this educational activity have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Commercial Support: This activity has received NO commercial support.

Continuing Education Accreditation Information

In support of improving patient care, StatPearls, LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

 

Nurse Practitioners: StatPearls designates this activity for 1.00 ANCC contact hour(s), which includes 0 hour(s) of pharmacology. NPs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Please consult your professional licensing board for information on the applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity.

Method of Participation and Credit

  1. Register for the activity.    
  2. Review the target audience, learning objectives, and disclosure information.
  3. Study the educational content of the enduring material.
  4. Choose the best answer to each activity test question. To receive credit and a certificate, you must pass the test questions with a minimum score of 100%.
  5. Complete the post-activity assessment survey.

If you have concerns regarding the CE/CME system, please contact support@statpearls.com.

Disclaimer

This educational activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Faculty may discuss investigational products or off-label uses of products regulated by the FDA. Readers should verify all information before employing any therapies described in this educational activity.

The information provided for this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical/clinical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition. The information presented does not necessarily reflect the views of StatPearls or any commercial supporters of educational activities on statpearls.com. StatPearls expressly disclaims responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the course, for undetected error, or through a participant's misunderstanding of the content.

Unapproved Uses of Drugs/Devices: In accordance with FDA requirements, the audience is advised that information presented in this continuing education activity may contain references to unlabeled or unapproved uses of drugs or devices. Please refer to the FDA-approved package insert for each drug/device for full prescribing/utilization information.

Cancellation Policy: Please see the cancellation policy. StatPearls, LLC reserves the right to cancel any course due to unforeseen circumstances.

 

 
 

Reviews

Stephen P. on 8/5/2021

Miranda H. on 4/2/2022

Alina G. on 6/26/2022

on 6/22/2022

Alyssa B. on 8/26/2022

Toni-Marie P. on 10/23/2022

Scott C. on 11/29/2022

Gaston D. on 7/3/2023

Puneet T. on 2/26/2024

Michael A. on 3/30/2024

Jessica C. on 4/8/2024

Terry K. on 9/28/2024

Jordan L. on 5/23/2025

Elena O. on 7/13/2025

MOATH A. on 8/23/2025

Stephen W. on 10/14/2025

Jae M. on 10/18/2025

Case 2 needs correcting.

Jonathan R. on 10/23/2025

Cecil B. on 10/27/2025

William B. on 11/28/2025

Christopher C. on 12/30/2025

David B. on 2/6/2026

Unlimited Nurse Practitioner CE

Stay up to date on the latest medical knowledge with 6345 CE activities. In these online self-assessment activities, read our reference articles and test your knowledge with more than 7569 hours of CE.

Single Activity

Take this single activity

$49 1 activity

6 Month Unlimited Nurse Practitioner CE

Access to all the Unlimited Nurse Practitioner CE activities in all specialties.

$379 per half year per user

1 Year Unlimited Nurse Practitioner CE

Access to all the Unlimited Nurse Practitioner CE activities in all specialties.

$579 per 1 year per user