The vagaries of proper imaging in diagnosing single-system ectopic ureter in children with continuous incontinence and outcomes of simple nephrectomy.

PURPOSE: To investigate the proper diagnostic modalities and failure cases of treatment in patients with single-system ectopic ureter (SSEU) who underwent nephrectomy for incontinence. METHODS: SSEU combined with dysplastic kidney is a rare cause of female incontinence. We retrospectively analyzed 45 pediatric SSEU patients that underwent simple nephrectomy at our institution during 1996-2013 for incontinence. We reviewed imaging studies to detect dysplastic kidney and ectopic ureter insertion, postoperative results, and urodynamic findings for remaining incontinence after nephrectomy. RESULTS: Median operative age was 59.3months. Both ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed 50.0% dysplastic kidney detection rates respectively. Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scanning and computerized tomography (CT) showed equal detection rates of 95.5%. Ectopic ureter insertion sites were determined by ultrasonography, CT, and MRI in 17.5%, 13.6%, and 33.3% of patients, respectively. Renal vascular structures were identified in 3/22 patients (13.6%) with CT. Post-nephrectomy, incontinence disappeared in 41 patients (91.1%), but remained in 4 patients (8.9%); urodynamics suggested bladder neck incompetence in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: DMSA is a highly sensitive diagnostic modality for detecting dysplastic kidney in SSEU patients with more than 95% detection rates. Once detected by DMSA, additional CT or MRI studies do not provide further information about ectopic ureter insertion or renal vascular structure. Although nephrectomy is successful in nearly 90% of SSEU patients with dysplastic kidneys, postoperative incontinence occasionally remains and requires additional treatment.

Is Increased Echogenicity Related to a Decrease in Glomerular Filtration Rate? Objective Measurements in Pediatric Solitary Kidney Patients--A Retrospective Analysis.

Quantitative measurements of renal echogenicity using a graphic program show close correlation with renal histology in adult patients, but this has neither been applied in pediatric patients nor correlated with glomerular filtration rate (GFR). To determine the direct relationship between echogenicity and GFR, we retrospectively analyzed 91 patients with a solitary functioning kidney under the age of 10, who underwent ultrasonography and serum cystatin C evaluation on a single day between January 2013 and December 2014. Echogenicity was quantified as previously reported. Echogenicity and kidney length were correlated with age-matched values of serum cystatin C-based GFR. Evaluation was performed at a median age of 17.1 months. GFR was low for age in eight of 54 right solitary kidney patients and four of 37 left solitary kidney patients. The right kidney-liver ratio was significantly elevated in the right decreased GFR group, while the left kidney-spleen ratio was not different in the left decreased GFR group. Age-matched longitudinal kidney length ratios were similar between the decreased and normal GFR groups for both sides. This is the first report to objectively prove the relationship between echogenicity and renal function in patients with a right solitary kidney. The right kidney-liver echogenicity ratio, measured objectively, showed feasibility in clinical practice as it showed a close relationship with decreased renal function when increased. However, absolute kidney echogenicity values, or the left kidney-spleen echogenicity ratio, were not independent markers for decreased renal function.

Laparoscopic Intravesical Detrusorrhaphy With Ureteral Plication for Megaureter: A Novel Technique.

INTRODUCTION: To demonstrate the novel technique of laparoscopic intravesical detrusorrhaphy with ureteral plication for megaureter. TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS: From December 2012 to June 2014, 11 patients with primary unilateral megaureter underwent laparoscopic intravesical detrusorrhaphy with ureteral plication. By a transvesicoscopic approach using a 3-port technique, the ureter was mobilized and plicated with a 6F Foley catheter. After dissection of the bladder mucosa in a semilunar shape, the detrusor was incised vertically and repaired underneath the mobilized ureter to create a submucosal tunnel. The ureter was covered with bladder mucosa, and the ureteral orifice was anastomosed to its orthotopic neoureteric orifice. The mean age of the included patients at the time of surgery was 9.18 years (range, 12 months-24 years). All surgeries were successfully completed without open conversion, with a mean operation time of 214 minutes including preoperative evaluation. All patients tolerated the procedure without any complications. Within the mean follow-up duration of 12.6 months (range, 5-24 months), no complications related to the surgery were reported, and no vesicoureteral reflux was detected in the operated side on postoperative voiding cystourethrography. The distal ureteral diameter was significantly reduced (from 21.1 to 11.6 mm), and the grade of hydronephrosis was decreased on postoperative ultrasonography without deterioration of renal function. CONCLUSION: In this study, laparoscopic intravesical detrusorrhaphy with ureteral plication demonstrated successful short-term outcomes in management of megaureter in children and adults. Our technique can be an effective and feasible surgical option in the treatment of megaureter.