Urological diagnosis – history and investigations

Urological diseases are common and can present acutely or electively. The symptoms may alert the physician to the underlying urological cause or be non-specific and thus present to non-urologists. Here we review the features of taking a urological history and examination, with the aim of making the correct underlying diagnosis. We structure this clinical interrogation to best aid the physician and emphasise current understanding of disease pathophysiology with respect to symptoms. We discuss the basics of urological investigation and the strengths of each method.