Locations
Suburban Hospital
Bethesda, MD
My office hours
Thursday: Closed
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Insurances accepted
BCS Insurance Company
About
Bio
Urologic oncologist
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Urology
Urologic Oncology
Licenses
United States: District Of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland
Doctor Q&A
38 Answers
1 Agree
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Possibly: UTIs can progress to a kidney infection, however this is usually associated with fevers, chills, and overall feeling sick. Also kidney stones can caus... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Yes: Vasectomy failure is uncommon. Even if failure occurs on one side, which would mean you remain fertile.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Myth: It is impossible to drink enough cranberry juice (or consume cranberry supplements) to prevent an UTI. Unfortunately this is only a myth with no medic... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
1 comment
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Tension?: There is a psychological component. Common first line treatment for premature is using SSRIs (eg Zoloft).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
UTI: Your symptoms are most consistent with a bladder infection.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
PSA: PSA can be elevated for various benign reasons, one of which is UTI. That is why a PSA should never be obtained in the setting of a bladder or prostat... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Varies: What is the person's age? Does it occur with urination or not related to voiding? How long has the burning been present? Is there any redness or irrit... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Yes: There are no restrictions. Activities as tolerated.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
UTI: Recommend going to you family doctor or urgent health clinic for evaluation of a bladder infection, which will require treatment with antibiotics. Als... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 52-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Depends: Obtaining a urine cytology is standard practice at time of cystoscopy. It can be helpful to determine if there is high grade cancer in the drainage sy... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Kidney stones: What you are describing could be related to kidney stones. The pain is typically intermittent and difficult to find a position where one is comfortabl... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 17-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
No: Only through vagiinal intercourse.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
No: There is no relation between the appendix and penile length.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Follow up: In young men who present with spotting in their underwear, the most likely cause is a urethral stricture (scar tissue in your urine channel). The caus... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Varies: A calcified renal cyst has a slightly higher rate of malignant conversion. Management involves interval imaging to assess for changes.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Yes: The left testicle naturally lies lower in the scrotum than the right.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Razor burn: No reason to be worried about herpes in this situation. Lesions seen with herpes are usually small fluid filled bumps.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 17-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
No: One's period involves shedding of the uterine lining. This lining is required to get pregnant. If you missed your period, then you should be concerned... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 59-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Stones: K-Cit is better absorbed from the intestine, compared to Ca-Cit. However in patients who have poor kidney function or are on certain blood pressure m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Not to worry: Masturbation has no long term effects and therefore does not affect your ability to have children in the future.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 59-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Clarification: Is the burning at the tip of the penis or the entire head of the penis? Is the burning constant or intermittent? Is there discoloration in the area of... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 51-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
No: Beets can commonly turn stool and urine red/black.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
No : Spinach does not explain blood in your urine. You should see your primary doctor for evaluation and referral to a urologist for further work up.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Likely: Symptoms consistent with a bladder infection are: burning with urination, going frequently, blood in the urine, and having to get to the bathroom quic... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Still early: Infertility concerns, in the case of a 25 year old, should not be a concern until one is unable to conceive after 12 months of properly timed intercou... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Depends: We typically recommend not treating small bilateral hydroceles, unless they are bothersome to you. There are no medical treatments that have been show... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Depends: There are multiple sub specialities within urology, so it depends on your reasoning for seeking urologic care.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Questionable abx: Doxycycline or arithromycin are not commonly used antibiotics for orchitis as penetration of the abx is poor. Typically treat with cipro (ciprofloxaci... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
2 likely dx: 1) Most likely kidney stones, which present with intermittent back pain that may radiate towards the groin. It is difficult to find a comfortable posi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 64-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Pain radiation: Embrylogically the testicles form intrabdominally near the kidneys. As a featus continues to grow in utero, the testes descend into the scrotum and t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Oder: Maloderous urine does not always imply UTI. It may be related to dehydration, certain foods (asparagus), ketones (if diabetic), etc. If you are not ex... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Penile length: Once a teen has completed puberty, the penis will no longer grow in length.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
As described: Burning with urination, frequency, urgency, sense of incomplete emptying are classic for UTI. Occasionally you may also see blood in your urine. Recom... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 16-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Yes: As stated by Shakespeare in Macbeth,
“What three things does drink especially provoke?"
"Marry, sir, nose-painting, sleep, and urine. Lechery, sir,... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 27-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Fertility: You only need one viable testis to produce sperm. Unless the hydrocele is very tense and placing a great amount of pressure on your remaining testis, ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Virtually nil: Even when one has intercourse in the hopes of having a child, the odds are small. In your case with the lack of penetration, your risk is practically ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Yes: Testicular atrophy (shrinkage) occurs as men age, and unfortunately no treatment exists to alter the course.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sam Brancatoanswered
Urology 16 years experience
Inflammation : Yes, persistent irritation or infection can cause enlarged lymph nodes.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
2
Recommendations
32
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Brancato is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Brancato is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! my problem is polyuria and polydipsia NO UTI osmaltiy tests normal and so kidney fine no high sugar nothing connecting kidneys BUT DDD a this came on VERY suddenly NOT A...Read More
HealthTap member
Your answer made me feel good! Thanks :) thank you so much i was panicing and your answer calmed me thank you !
HealthTap member
Your answer made me feel good! Thanks :)
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine, MO
Graduated 2007MD
Residency
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
Residency
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
Awards
Attending Physician
Affiliations
American Urologic Association
Society of Urologic Oncology
American Medical Association - AMA
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