Differential Diagnosis for Painless Hematuria
- Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Kidney stones (nephrolithiasis): This is a common cause of painless hematuria, especially if the stones are small and not obstructing the urinary tract.
- Other Likely Diagnoses
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs): While UTIs often cause dysuria and other symptoms, some cases can present with painless hematuria.
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): Enlargement of the prostate gland can cause hematuria due to bladder outlet obstruction or prostate inflammation.
- Cystitis: Inflammation of the bladder can cause hematuria, and some cases may be painless, especially if the inflammation is mild.
- Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Bladder cancer: Although less common, bladder cancer is a critical diagnosis to consider in cases of painless hematuria, as it can be asymptomatic in its early stages.
- Kidney cancer: Similar to bladder cancer, kidney cancer can cause painless hematuria and is essential to rule out due to its potential severity.
- Sickle cell disease or trait: These conditions can cause hematuria due to sickling of red blood cells in the kidneys, and it's crucial to consider them, especially in patients with a relevant family history.
- Rare Diagnoses
- Alport syndrome: A genetic disorder affecting the type IV collagen in the kidneys, leading to hematuria and progressive kidney disease.
- Goodpasture syndrome: A rare autoimmune disease causing inflammation in the kidneys and lungs, which can present with hematuria.
- Nutcracker phenomenon: A rare condition where the left renal vein is compressed between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery, causing hematuria.