KUB Test Cost In Hyderabad

What is the cost of KUB in Hyderabad?

In Hyderabad, the cost of KUB varies depending on various factors. The range is as low as Rs 215 for basic X-ray KUB to Rs 10,000 for MRI KUB.

What are the indications for which KUB is used?

A Kidney, Ureters, and Bladder (KUB) imaging evaluation is used to test the urinary and gastrointestinal systems, whether performed by means of an X-ray, ultrasound, or computed tomography.

Primary urinary system indications include

• Urolithiasis – Detection of stones in the kidneys, ureters, and bladder.
• Urinary blockages – To evaluate obstructions that may cause hydronephrosis, which is swollen kidneys.
• Hematuria – To evaluate the cause of blood in urine.
• Infections – Evaluating problems that cause recurrent urinary tract infections or severe kidney infections like pyelonephritis.
• Organ evaluation – Testing the size, shape, and position of the kidney and bladder
• Tumors and cysts – Screening evaluation for abnormal masses or fluid-filled sacs in the urinary tract.
• Congenital anomalies – Identifying defects of the urinary system at birth.
• Post-Void Residual (PVR) – measures urine volume that remains in the bladder after urination to evaluate the functioning of the bladder.
• Gastrointestinal and General Abdominal indications include
• Abdominal pain – To investigate unexplained acute pain in the abdomen, flank, or back.
• Bowel obstruction – Detecting signs of Intestinal blockage or abnormal gas patterns.
• Gallstones – Identifying calcified stones in the gall bladder.
• Foreign Objects – Locating swallowed items or identifying foreign bodies in the abdominal cavity.
• Perforation – Detecting free air or fluid between abdominal organs that may indicate a ruptured stomach or intestine.
• Procedural and Monitoring Indications Include
• Device placement – Involves KUB confirming the correct position of stents in uretra, urinary catheters, feeding tubes, or nasogastric tubes.
• Follow-up – KUB monitoring the progression, growth, and clearance of known kidney stones after treatment.
• Baseline Imaging – Provides a reference image before more complex contrast studies, like an intravenous pyelogram (IVP).

Procedure of KUB

A KUB (Kidneys, Ureters, and Bladders) procedure is a diagnostic evaluation test used to examine the urinary system. Depending on your symptoms, a doctor may order an ultrasound, an X-ray, or a CT scan.

KUB Ultrasound (Non-invasive and Radiation-Free) – This is the most common first-line test, mainly for children and pregnant women.

• Preparation involves hydration, where the patient is asked to drink approximately 1 liter of water about one hour before the scan and not urinate. A full bladder acts as an acoustic window to help the sonographer see the organs in the pelvis clearly.
• Fasting is usually not required unless combined with a full abdominal scan.
• The procedure is 20-30 minutes and involves the patient lying on an examination table, and a water-based gel is then applied to the abdomen and flanks.
• A hand-held transducer is then moved over the skin to capture images in real time. The patient is asked to hold breath or change the position to give the technicians a better angle.
• Post-Void residual (PVR) is where the patient may be asked to empty the bladder and return for a second scan to see how much urine remains.

KUB X-ray (Standard Radiograph) is used primarily to quickly identify radio-opaque kidney stones or bowel obstructions

• Preparation is minimal, where the patient may be asked to remove jewelry or clothing with metal fasteners.
• The procedure generally takes 5-10 minutes, where the patient lies flat in a supine position or stands against a detector. A lead apron may cover areas not being imaged for safety, and the patient may remain perfectly still and hold their breath for a few seconds while the image is captured.

Computed Tomography KUB Scan (Highly Detailed) is mostly considered a gold standard for diagnosing small kidney stones because it provides detailed 3D slices.

• Often performed using plain (Non-contrast computed tomography) without using contrast dye, and requires minimal preparation besides removing metal. If contrast is used (Contrast-enhanced computed tomography), then 4-6 hours of fasting is required.
• The procedure involves the patient lying down on a narrow motorized table that slides into a doughnut-shaped scanner. As the machine rotates, the patient must remain perfectly still. The patient is then asked to hold his breath for 5-10 seconds at a time.
• It takes 10-15 minutes for a plain scan, and up to 90 minutes if contrast is involved.

Types Of KUB

There are several modalities used to perform the KUB test, which are

• X-Ray KUB (Plain film radiography) is a common first-line diagnostic procedure that utilizes external radiation to produce images. It is commonly utilized to detect renal, uretric or stones in the bladder and evaluate organ size or position.
• CT KUB (Computed Tomography): often utilised for more detailed imaging, a CT-KUB provides cross-sectional views of the urinary tract. A non-contrast CT KUB, as mentioned above in the procedure section, is considered the gold standard for diagnosing kidney stones.
• Ultrasound KUB (USG KUB): is a non-invasive test that utilizes sound waves to create real-time images. It is useful for identifying kidney enlargement, cysts, tumors, and measuring post-void residual urine.
• MRI KUB (Magnetic resonance Imaging): uses powerful magnets and radio waves to provide high-resolution images without ionizing radiation.
• CECT KUB (Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography): A Computed Tomography Scan performed by using a contrast agent to better highlight the flow of blood and soft tissue abnormalities.
• Specialized procedures are where additional tests may be ordered to evaluate specific urine functions.
• An intravenous pyelogram (IVP) is an X-ray study that uses injected contrast dye to show how urine flows through the system.
• A retrograde pyelogram is a procedure where contrast is injected directly into the ureters via a cystoscope.
• Radionuclide scanning is a nuclear medicine test to evaluate kidney function and drainage.

Factors Influencing the Cost Of KUB

• Imaging technique used
• Contrast dye
• Patient factors
• Type of facility
• Geographical location
• Insurance coverage