Cystoscopy (bladder endoscopy)

Cystoscopy, or flexible cystoscopy, allows the inside of the urethra and bladder to be viewed directly. After applying an anaesthetic gel, the urologist passes a thin, flexible endoscope fitted with a camera and a light through the natural passages. The examination is used to look for the cause of blood in the urine, to monitor a previously treated bladder tumour, to investigate unexplained infections or urinary symptoms, or to check the condition of the urethra. It is also used to remove a double-J stent. If needed, a small biopsy can be taken. In some cases (multiple biopsies, children, anxious patients), cystoscopy is performed with a rigid endoscope under brief general anaesthesia. The urologist will advise on the most suitable method. At Clinique Pasteur Tunis, cystoscopy is performed in a specialist consultation or as a day-case procedure. Patients can often watch the images live, and the urologist explains the findings at the end of the examination.