Lurologie

Lurologie, usually written urologie in Dutch and French-speaking contexts, is a medical-surgical specialty focused on disorders of the urinary tract in both sexes and on the male reproductive system. The field combines medical management with surgical techniques and operates alongside related specialties such as nephrology, oncology, and endocrinology.

The principal organs addressed include the kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra, and in men, the prostate, testes, penis, and related structures such as the seminal vesicles. Urologists may treat pediatric and adult patients and may subspecialize in areas such as pediatric urology, uro-oncology, endourology, reconstructive urology, female urology, and neuro-urology.

Common conditions encountered in urology include urinary tract infections, kidney stones, urinary incontinence, hematuria, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostate or bladder cancer, erectile dysfunction, and infertility. Urologists also manage congenital anomalies, urinary tract obstructions, and male infertility, often in collaboration with other specialists.

Diagnostics and treatment involve patient history and physical examination, urinalysis, urine culture, imaging such as ultrasound, CT or MRI, and procedures like cystoscopy and urodynamics; PSA testing is used in some settings for prostate assessment. Treatments range from medical management with antibiotics, alpha-blockers, antimuscarinics, and PDE5 inhibitors to surgical options including TURP, radical prostatectomy, cystectomy, nephrectomy, and kidney stone procedures (ESWL, ureteroscopy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy). Minimally invasive and robotic-assisted techniques, catheterization, stents, and reconstructive surgeries are also common.

Training and practice typically require medical schooling followed by residency in urology, with board certification in many countries. Urology is practiced in hospitals and clinics worldwide and emphasizes preserving function and quality of life while treating complex urinary and reproductive disorders.