Ureteroscopic and radiographic imaging of the upper urinary tract.

Direct endoscopic viewing of the upper urinary tract offers multiple benefits, including recognition and diagnosis, and also permits unsurpassed accuracy in positioning working instruments for biopsy and treatment. We have demonstrated the normal and abnormal endoscopic findings within the upper urinary tract in patients who were treated ureteroscopically for numerous indications, including calculi, filling defects, or ureteral obstruction. Small (7 to 7.5F) rigid and flexible ureteroscopes were employed in all patients. Selected endoscopic images of the subject lesions were photographed using a 35-mm camera with an endoscopic zoom lens and ISO-400 film. Endoscopic findings are illustrated in 13 patients, with case summaries in 11. Selected radiographic and endoscopic images show the essential features in each case and demonstrate the value of ureteroscopic examination.