Children and adolescents with ureteropelvic junction obstruction: is an additional voiding cystourethrogram necessary? Results of a multicenter study.

PURPOSE: The incidence of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) and concomitant vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) ranges from 14 to 18 %. Therefore, different guidelines recommend a voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) to identify cases of VUR early in the diagnostic process. Aim of this multicenter study was to reassess the incidence of concomitant VUR and the need for additional VCUG in a large cohort of patients with UPJO. Furthermore, we asked for clinical objectives that defined the need for VCUG with the intention of minimizing radiation exposure and the need for invasive diagnostic procedures. METHODS: Medical records for 266 patients (69 girls, 197 boys) with UPJO were analyzed retrospectively. Data were obtained on gender, clinical symptoms, results of pre- and postnatal ultrasound, VCUG and 99(m)Technetium-MAG3 (MAG3) scan. They were correlated with the incidence of concomitant VUR. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-eight patients (67 %) underwent VCUG. Concomitant VUR was detected in 13 patients. Dilating VUR (dVUR) was observed in 11 patients. In our study, the overall incidence of a concomitant VUR was 7.3 %. In cases of proven VUR, we observed a positive predictive value for female gender, ureteral dilatation, renal insufficiency, and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI). But there was no correlation between concomitant VUR and the severity of hydronephrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the low incidence of concomitant VUR in cases of UPJO does not justify the routine use of VCUG as a routine diagnostic tool. Especially, ureteral dilatation and recurrent UTI have a positive predictive value for concomitant VUR.

[Neurogenic bladder function disorders in patients with meningomyelocele: S2k guidelines on diagnostics and therapy]. / Neurogene Blasenfunktionsstörungen bei Patienten mit Meningomyelozele : S2k-Leitlinie zu Diagnostik und Therapie.

The treatment of children and adolescents with meningomyelocele has experienced a clear change in the last 30 years. The establishment of pharmacotherapy, clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) and infection prophylaxis have improved the prognosis for patients and have led to new therapeutic strategies. The interdisciplinary cooperation between neonatologists, neurosurgeons, pediatric neurologists, pediatric urologists, pediatric nephrologists, pediatric orthopedists and pediatric surgeons leads to optimization of individualized therapy. These guidelines present definitions and classifications, investigations and timing which are described in detail. The conservative and operative therapy options for neurogenic bladder function disorders are described and discussed with reference to the current literature. The brief overview provides in each case assistance for the treating physician in the care of this patient group and facilitates the interdisciplinary cooperation.

[Ventral urethral diverticulum. Case report of a 10-year-old girl]. / Ventrales Harnröhrendivertikel. Kasuistik eines 10jährigen Mädchens.

In total urethral diverticula in children represent a very rare urological disorder. Primary localisation is the dorsal side of the urethra, ventral located diverticula are extremely rare. We report on a ten year old girl with a ventral, urethral diverticulum presenting with the symptoms of persisting enuresis. The diverticulum was excised through a median laparatomy. Placement of suprapubic catheter facilitated adequate postoperative drainage and postoperative cystourethrography confirmed the absence of extravasation.

[Extravesical correction of the uretero-vesicle junction]. / Extravesikale Korrektur der Harnleitermündung.

In correction of the ureterovesical junction, the pathology can be corrected using an extravesical or intravesical technique. We performed an extravesical antireflux procedure with the dismembered or non-dismembered technique in 117 ureters between March 1991 and March 1996 at our Department of Pediatric Urology. The success rate was 94.9% (111 renal units). Postoperative morbidity and complications were minimal, hematuria and bladder spasms were not seen. Associated pathology like paraostial diverticula, megaureter with the necessity for modeling and ureter duplex do not compromise the success rate.

[Differential diagnosis of acute testicular pain using color-coded duplex ultrasonography: difference between testicular torsion and epididymitis]. / Differentialdiagnose des akuten Hodenschmerzes mit farbkodierter Duplexsonographie. Unterscheidung zwischen Hodentorsion und Epididymitis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess retrospectively the accuracy of colour-coded duplex sonography (CCDS) in distinguishing testicular torsion from epididymitis as the cause of acute testicular pain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The results of CCDS were analysed for all 81 patients (mean age 27.2 years [6 weeks to 60 years]), admitted between 1.1.1995 and 30.6.1996 with the diagnosis of acute testicular pain. Testicular torsion was diagnosed when CCDS failed to detect perfusion in one testis. Regular arterial and venous perfusion of both testes excluded torsion. Epididymitis was diagnosed when hyperperfusion of the epididymis was demonstrated by CCDS. RESULTS: 20 of 22 cases of torsion, subsequently diagnosed at surgery, had been correctly diagnosed by CCDS (sensitivity 90.9%, specificity 98.3%). 55 patients had epididymitis, confirmed by the clinical course and follow-up having excluded torsion. Other causes (trauma, tumour, inguinal hernia) were found in the remainder of patients. CONCLUSION: With a positive predictive value of 95.2% and a negative one of 96.6% CCDS is a highly suitable method for recognizing or excluding testicular torsion and thus clarifying the cause of acute testicular pain.