Urography—Common Diagnostic Errors

Abstract

Urography, that is, pyelography, ureterography, and cystography, is a modern procedure. Von Zeissel, in 1902, outlined the bladder by means of an opaque medium. Kellar, in 1904, introduced pneumocystoradiography and although this is in common use abroad, it has never become popular in the United States because of the pain of distention and the emphysema of surrounding tissues. Voelck-er and von Lichtenberg, in 1906, used colloidal silver suspension for outlining both the bladder and the kidneys. Two years later Albarran and Ertzbischoff confirmed their work in a report before the French Urological Association. Braasch, in 1910, popularized pyelography in the United States, and in 1911 Sir John Thomson-Walker introduced it into England. In the early days numerous accidents and fatalities occurred, due to over-injection, with tearing and infiltration of the kidney parenchyma and resultant abscess formation, and to the toxic agents entering the blood stream. Poirier, in 1891, first demonstrated the ready com...