Ureterocele Information
A ureterocele is a congenital abnormality found in the urinary bladder. In this condition called ureteroceles, the distal ureter balloons at its opening into the bladder, forming a sac-like pouch. It is most often associated with a duplicated collection system, where two ureters drain their respective kidney instead of one. Simple ureteroceles, where the condition involves only a single ureter, represents only twenty percent of cases. Ureteroceles affects one in 4,000 individuals, at least four fifths of whom are female. Patients are frequently Caucasian.
Since the advent of the ultrasound, most ureteroceles are diagnosed prenatally. The pediatric and adult conditions are often found only through diagnostic imaging performed for reasons other than suspicious ureteroceles.
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Classification
- Intravesical
- Confined within the bladder
- Ectopic
- Some part extends to the bladder neck or urethra
- Stenotic
- Intravesical ureterocele with a narrow opening
- Sphincteric
- Ectopic ureterocele with an orifice distal to the bladder neck
- Sphincterostenotic
- Orifice is both stenostic and distal to the bladder neck
- Cecoureterocele
- Ectopic ureterocele that extends into the urethra, but the orifice is in the bladder
Signs and symptoms
The signs and symptoms of ureteroceles in the latter two forms can easily be confused with other medical conditions. Symptoms can include:
- Frequent urinary tract infection
- Urosepsis
- Obstructive voiding symptoms
- Urinary retention
- Failure to thrive
- Hematuria
- Cyclic abdominal pain
- Ureteral calculus
- cobra head sign is seen in radiography.
Complications
Many other complications arise from ureteroceles. Redundant collection systems are usually smaller in diameter than single, and predispose the patient to impassable kidney stones. The effective "bladder within a bladder" compounds this problem by increasing the collision of uric acid particles, the process by which uric acid stones are formed. Ureteroceles is also associated with poor kidney function. It can cause frequent blockage of the ureter leading to serious kidney damage. In other cases, a small, upper portion of the kidney is congenitally non-functional. Though often benign, this problem can necessitate the removal of non-functioning parts.
Causes
Definitive causes of ureteroceles have not been found. While the abnormal growth occurs within the uterus, it has not been substantiated that genetics are to blame.
Treatment · Single-system ureterocele Initial management is usually endoscopic incision of the ureterocele, which can be followed by surgical ureteric re-implantation to preserve renal function and prevent reflux. · Duplex-system ureterocele Treatment options vary with the individual and include: endoscopic incision; upper pole nephrectomy for a poorly functioning unit with ureterectomy or, where there is useful renal function, ureteropyelostomy can be performed.
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