Ultrasonographic and radiographic diagnosis of ectopic ureter in a dog

ABSTRACT

Background: Ureteral ectopia (or ectopic ureter) is a congenital anomaly of the urinary system in which the ureter insertsanywhere other than the vesical trigone. This anatomical change may have unilateral or bilateral involvement. The mostevident clinical sign, occurring mostly in females, is urinary incontinence, however in some cases the condition may progressto nephritis and dilation of the renal pelvis. The diagnosis is established through imaging, and definitive treatment requiressurgical approach. The present study reports a case of ureteral ectopia in a dog which was diagnosed by ultrasound andcontrast radiography (excretory urography) and successfully treated by neoureterostomy.Case A 10-month-old female American Pit Bull Terrier was attended at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid (UFERSA), in Mossoró, RN. Her owner reported incontinence of dark, malodorous urine sincebirth as the chief complaint. After clinical examination, cystitis was suspected, and a complete blood count, urinalysis,and abdominal ultrasound was requested. The blood count and creatinine were within the reference values. The presenceof struvite crystals were found on urinalysis. Ultrasound examination revealed a tortuous, dilated right ureter from therenal pelvis to the urinary bladder; no uroliths were identified as a cause of potential obstruction, but the ipsilateral kidneyshowed increased cortical echogenicity, loss of corticomedullary definition, and moderate pelvic dilation. These findingssupported a presumptive diagnosis of ectopic ureter. For the purpose of confirming this suspicion, excretory urography wasperformed, revealing unilateral ureteral dilation and radiopaque contrast uptake following the path of the urethra. Once thediagnosis was confirmed, surgery was performed to correct the ureteral ectopia using the standard...