Department of Paediatrics, University of Oulu, Finland Department of Radiology, University of Oulu, Finland.
To evaluate whether ultrasonography (US) alone is sufficient in imaging the urinary tract in 1185 children with urinary tract infection (UTI).
The reports on US and voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) were reviewed.
Initial US was normal in 861/1185 patients (73%). VCUG revealed abnormal findings in 285/861 (33%), of which grade III to V vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) comprised 97 cases (11%). During follow-up, VUR had resolved in 88/97 (91%) patients: in 50/57 (88%) patients without active treatment for VUR, in 27/29 (93%) with endoscopic and 11/11 (100%) with open surgery for VUR. During follow-up 11/97 patients (11%) had developed new renal scarring detectable in US, but no renal impairment occurred. Except for VUR, VCUG showed non-obstructive urethral valves in two infant boys with normal initial US. Thus, in 861 children with normal initial US, 40 patients with grade III to V VUR and two patients with significant non-reflux pathology may have benefited from surgical treatment, giving the total number of possibly missed pathological finding in 42/861 (4.9%) cases if VCUG had not been performed.
We suggest that children with UTI could be examined using US alone and to use VCUG only after additional indications.
Written by:
Annukka H, Mika V, Marja P, Tytti P, Marjo R, Matti U. Are you the author?
Reference: Acta Paediatr. 2011 Jun 28. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2011.02391.x
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 21711394
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