Benefits and Risks – Voiding Cystourethrogram (VCUG)

Benefits

• This examination will help your doctor to make a correct diagnosis or decision about your treatment.
• A VCUG can help determine the cause of urinary voiding problems.
• No radiation remains in a patient's body after an x-ray examination.
• X-rays usually have no side effects in the typical diagnostic range for this exam.

Risks

• There is always a slight chance of cancer from excessive exposure to radiation. However, the benefit of an accurate diagnosis far outweighs the risk.
• There is some risk of infection from the catheter.
• The amount of radiation exposure is similar to that of other x-rays.
• Women should always inform their physician or x-ray technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant.