Urology Glossary

A

Azoospermia

Complete absence of sperm in the ejaculate. Classified as obstructive (sperm produced but blocked) or non-obstructive (low/absent production). Treatable causes include blockages, hormonal imbalance, and varicocele.

Alpha-blockers

Medicines (e.g., tamsulosin, silodosin) that relax the muscle of the prostate and bladder neck, improving urine flow in BPH. Common first-line treatment.

B

BCG therapy

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin - a live bacterial solution instilled into the bladder after TURBT for high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Stimulates the immune system to destroy remaining cancer cells.

BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia)

Non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, very common in men over 50. Causes urinary symptoms such as weak flow, frequency, and incomplete emptying. Treated with medication (alpha-blockers, 5-ARIs) or surgery (HoLEP, TURP).

Bladder neck

The junction between the bladder and the urethra. Obstruction here - due to BPH, scarring, or other causes - can restrict urine flow.

C

Creatinine

A waste product filtered by the kidneys. A raised serum creatinine level indicates reduced kidney function and is a key test in any urology workup.

CT KUB

Computed tomography of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder - the gold-standard scan for diagnosing kidney stones. Can detect stones as small as 1 mm without contrast dye.

Cystoscopy

A procedure in which a thin flexible or rigid telescope (cystoscope) is passed into the bladder via the urethra. Used to diagnose bladder tumours, strictures, and haematuria causes. Typically done under local anaesthetic in clinic.

Cystectomy

Surgical removal of the bladder, performed for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. A radical cystectomy also removes nearby lymph nodes. Urinary diversion (ileal conduit or neobladder) is required afterwards.

D

Da Vinci robotic system

A surgical robot used for minimally invasive urology. The surgeon operates from a console with magnified 3D vision and tremor-filtered robotic arms. Used for prostatectomy, partial nephrectomy, pyeloplasty, and cystectomy.

DJ stent (Double-J stent)

A soft plastic tube placed inside the ureter to keep it open after stone surgery or to treat a ureteric blockage. Removed later via flexible cystoscopy. May cause bladder discomfort and frequency.

E

ESWL (Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy)

Non-invasive kidney stone treatment using focused shock waves from outside the body to break stones into passable fragments. Most effective for stones under 10 mm in the kidney. No anaesthesia or incision required.

Erectile dysfunction (ED)

Persistent difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual activity. Causes include vascular disease, diabetes, hormonal issues, medications, and psychological factors.

F

FRCS Urology

Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons - Urology. The specialist surgical examination administered in the UK and Ireland, required for NHS consultant practice. One of the most rigorous urology qualification pathways globally.

Free PSA

PSA not bound to proteins in the blood. A low free-to-total PSA ratio raises suspicion for prostate cancer. Used to refine risk in men with a borderline total PSA.

G

Gleason score

A grading system for prostate cancer based on the microscopic pattern of cancer cells in biopsy tissue. Scored 6–10: 6 is low-grade, 10 is high-grade. Higher scores suggest more aggressive disease.

GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate)

A measure of how well the kidneys filter waste from the blood. Estimated from creatinine (eGFR). Normal is above 60 ml/min/1.73m². Used to stage chronic kidney disease.

H

Haematuria

Blood in the urine. Visible (gross) haematuria is always significant and requires investigation. Microscopic haematuria is found on dipstick/urine microscopy. Causes range from UTIs and stones to bladder and kidney cancer.

HoLEP (Holmium Laser Enucleation of Prostate)

Minimally invasive surgical treatment for BPH using a holmium laser to enucleate the obstructing prostate tissue. Works on all prostate sizes. Shorter catheter time and faster recovery than TURP. Performed at Apollo Hospital Gurugram.

Hydronephrosis

Swelling (dilation) of the kidney caused by a blockage to urine flow. The cause may be a stone, stricture, tumour, or congenital obstruction (UPJO). Untreated, it can damage kidney function.

Hypercalciuria

Excess calcium in the urine - the most common metabolic cause of calcium oxalate kidney stones. Identified on 24-hour urine collection. Managed with dietary changes and thiazide diuretics.

I

IPSS (International Prostate Symptom Score)

A validated 7-question questionnaire scoring urinary symptoms from 0–35. Used to grade BPH severity (mild 0–7, moderate 8–19, severe 20–35) and to guide treatment decisions.

Impotence

Another term for erectile dysfunction. See Erectile dysfunction.

K

Kidney stone (Nephrolithiasis)

Solid crystalline deposit forming within the kidney or urinary tract. Most are calcium oxalate. Stones under 5 mm usually pass spontaneously; larger stones may require RIRS, PCNL, or ESWL. Recurrence rate is 50% at 10 years without prevention.

L

Lithotripsy

Any technique for breaking kidney or bladder stones. Includes ESWL (external shock waves), laser lithotripsy (during RIRS or ureteroscopy), and pneumatic lithotripsy.

Lymph node dissection (LND)

Surgical removal of lymph nodes near a tumour to check for cancer spread and to reduce recurrence risk. Performed alongside radical prostatectomy, nephrectomy, and cystectomy.

M

MCh Urology (AIIMS)

Magister Chirurgiae in Urology - a three-year surgical super-specialty degree, the highest urology qualification in India. Fewer than six seats are awarded nationally per year at AIIMS Delhi.

MicroTESE

Microsurgical Testicular Sperm Extraction. A surgical procedure performed under an operating microscope to find and retrieve sperm from the testes in men with non-obstructive azoospermia. Used with IVF/ICSI for conception.

MRI prostate (mpMRI)

Multi-parametric MRI - a specialist scan for detecting prostate cancer. Now recommended before biopsy. Scores lesions on the PI-RADS scale (1–5). PI-RADS 4–5 lesions are targeted for biopsy.

N

Nephrectomy

Surgical removal of a kidney. Radical nephrectomy removes the whole kidney (for large or complex tumours). Partial nephrectomy removes only the tumour, preserving kidney tissue - preferred when technically feasible.

Nephrolithiasis

The medical term for kidney stones.

O

OAB (Overactive Bladder)

A condition characterised by urgency, frequency (urinating more than 8 times in 24 hours), and often urgency incontinence. Caused by involuntary bladder muscle contractions. Treated with bladder retraining, anticholinergics, or beta-3 agonists.

Orchiectomy

Surgical removal of one or both testes. Radical orchiectomy (via the groin) is the first treatment for testicular cancer. Bilateral orchiectomy is used in some cases of metastatic prostate cancer to reduce testosterone.

P

PCNL (Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy)

Minimally invasive surgery for large kidney stones (typically over 20 mm) or complex stone burdens. A small incision in the back allows direct access to the kidney. Performed under general anaesthesia, usually with 1–2 days of hospital stay.

PI-RADS

Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System. A 5-point scale used to report findings on mpMRI. PI-RADS 1–2: unlikely significant cancer. PI-RADS 4–5: likely significant cancer - biopsy recommended.

PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen)

A protein produced by the prostate gland, measured via a blood test. Raised PSA may indicate BPH, prostatitis, or prostate cancer. It is used for prostate cancer screening and monitoring after treatment.

Prostatectomy

Surgical removal of the prostate. Radical prostatectomy removes the entire prostate and seminal vesicles for prostate cancer. Performed robotically (da Vinci) for better functional outcomes.

Pyeloplasty

Surgery to repair a blockage at the ureteropelvic junction (UPJO) - where the kidney meets the ureter. Performed robotically for most cases. Restores normal urine drainage.

R

RCC (Renal Cell Carcinoma)

The most common type of kidney cancer (about 80% of cases). Often found incidentally on ultrasound or CT. Treatment depends on stage: partial or radical nephrectomy for localised disease; targeted therapy or immunotherapy for metastatic disease.

RIRS (Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery)

Keyhole laser surgery for kidney stones, passed through the natural urinary passage (no incisions). A flexible ureteroscope carries a holmium laser that dusts or fragments the stone. Preferred for stones 5–20 mm. Same-day or 1-night stay.

Radical cystectomy

Removal of the bladder, prostate (in men), or uterus and anterior vaginal wall (in women) plus lymph nodes, for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. A urinary diversion is created. Performed robotically for faster recovery.

S

Semen analysis

Laboratory examination of ejaculate assessing sperm count, motility (movement), and morphology (shape). The starting point for male fertility investigation. Normal WHO 2021 reference: count ≥16 million/ml, motility ≥42%, morphology ≥4%.

Stricture (urethral)

Narrowing of the urethra due to scarring, commonly from prior infection, injury, or instrumentation. Causes poor flow and spraying. Treated by urethral dilation, internal urethrotomy, or urethroplasty.

T

TURBT (Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumour)

Endoscopic removal of bladder tumours via a cystoscope. The primary treatment and diagnostic procedure for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Allows pathological staging. Usually followed by a single dose of intravesical chemotherapy.

TURP (Transurethral Resection of Prostate)

The traditional surgical treatment for BPH. A resectoscope removes obstructing prostate tissue electrically via the urethra. Safe and effective but associated with a higher risk of bleeding and retrograde ejaculation than HoLEP.

U

Ureteroscopy

Passage of a thin telescope (ureteroscope) up the ureter to visualise or treat stones, strictures, or tumours. Flexible ureteroscopes reach the kidney (used in RIRS). Semirigid ureteroscopes treat ureteric stones.

UPJO (Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction)

A blockage at the point where the kidney connects to the ureter. Can be congenital or acquired. Causes hydronephrosis. Treated by robotic pyeloplasty.

Uro-oncology

The sub-speciality of urology focused on cancers of the urinary tract and male reproductive organs: kidney cancer, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and adrenal cancer.

UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)

Bacterial infection affecting the urethra (urethritis), bladder (cystitis), or kidney (pyelonephritis). Common in women. Recurrent UTIs require investigation for underlying structural or functional abnormality.

V

Varicocele

Enlargement of the veins draining the testicle (pampiniform plexus), similar to varicose veins. Present in 15% of men and 40% of infertile men. May impair sperm quality and testosterone. Treated by microsurgical varicocelectomy.

Vasectomy reversal (Vasovasostomy)

Microsurgical procedure to reconnect the vas deferens after vasectomy, restoring the potential for natural conception. Success depends on time since vasectomy and sperm antibody levels.

Healthcare disclaimer. This glossary is for general education only and does not constitute medical advice. Every patient is different - always discuss your individual situation with Dr. Nitin Shrivastava or a qualified urologist before making any decisions about investigation or treatment.