Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Abnormalities of the Lower Urinary Tract and Urachus

  • Chapter
Pediatric Uroradiology

Part of the book series: Medical Radiology ((Med Radiol Diagn Imaging))

  • 156 Accesses

Abstract

Nowadays, maternal fetal sonography is able to diagnose most congenital abnormalities of the lower urinary tract (Eurin et al. 1999). A normal bladder is visible in the fetal abdomen as early as the 13th week of gestation. Its identification can be eased by color Doppler encoding of blood flow in the umbilical arteries alongside. Later during pregnancy, the bladder should be examined on several occasions during maternal fetal sonography to ensure that the bladder fills and empties. Cycles last 30–45 min (Patten et al. 1990). Normal ureters are not visible. The normal bladder appears as a thin-walled fluid-filled cavity. Any bladder abnormality (size, wall thickening) should lead to a joint analysis of kidneys (cavities and parenchyma), fetal gender, abundance of amniotic fluid, and fetal lungs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 74.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Abbott JF, Levine D, Wapner R (1998) Posterior urethral valves: inaccuracy of prenatal diagnosis. Fetal Diagn Ther, May-Jun 13(3): 179–183

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Avni EF, Schulman CC (1996) The origin of vesico-ureteric reflux in male newborns: further evidence in favour of a transient fetal urethral obstruction. Br J Radiol 78: 454–459

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Avni EF, Gallery E, Rypens F et al. (1992) A hypothesis for the higher incidence of vesico-ureteral reflux and primary megaureters in male babies. Pediatr Radiol 22: 1–4

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barbagli G, Selli C, Palminteri E et al. (1996) Duplications of the bulbous urethra: clinicoradiologic findings and therapeutic options. Eur Urol 29: 67–71

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bear JW, Gilsanz V (1981) Calcified meconium and persistent cloaca. AJR 137: 867–868

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bellah RD, Long FR, Canning DA (1995) Ureterocele eversion with vesicoureteral reflux in duplex kidneys: findings at voiding cystourethrography. AJR 165: 409–413

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bisset GS, Strife JL, Kirks DR (1991) Genitourinary tract in practical pediatric imaging. Kirks D (ed) Little, Brown, Boston, pp 905–1056

    Google Scholar 

  • Blane CE, Zerin JM, Bloom DA (1994) Bladder diverticula in children. Radiology 190: 695–697

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bockrath JM, Maizels M, Firlit CF (1982) Benign bladder neck polyp causing tandem obstruction of the urinary tract in a patient with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. J Urol 128: 1309–1312

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cobb BG, Wolf JA, Ansell JS (1968) Congenital stricture of the proximal urethral bulb. J Urol 99: 629–631

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dewan PA, Keenan RJ, Morris LL et al. (1994) Congenital urethral obstruction: Cobb’s collar or prolapsed congenital obstructive posterior urethral membrane (COPUM). Br J Urol 73: 91–95

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dewan PA, Goh DG (1995) Variable expression of the congenital obstructive posterior urethral membrane. Urology 45: 507–509

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dewan PA, Zappala SM, Ransley PG et al. (1992) Endoscopic reappraisal of the morphology of congenital obstruction of the posterior urethra. Br J Urol 70: 439–444

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dhillon HK, Yeung CK, Duffy PG et al. (1993) Cowper’s glands cysts — a cause of transient intra-uterine bladder outflow obstruction. Fetal Diagn Ther 8: 51–55

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Diard F, Eklöf O, Lebowitz RL et al. (1981) Urethral obstruction in boys caused by prolapse of simple ureterocele. Pediatr Radiol 11: 139–142

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Drozdz D, Drozdz M, Gretz N et al. (1998) Progression to endstage renal disease in children with posterior urethral valves. Pediatr Nephrol 12: 630–636

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eurin D, Vaast P, Robert Y (1999) Voies urinaires et rétropéritonie. In: Avni F, Robert Y (eds) Imagerie du foetus, Société Française de Radiologie, Paris, pp 85–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Foster RS, Garrett RA (1986) Congenital posterior urethral polyps. J Urol 136: 670–672

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gobet R, Bleakley J, Peters CA (1998) Premature urachal closure induces hydroureteronephrosis in male fetuses. J Urol 160: 1463–1467

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grignon A, Dubois J (1999) Malformations de la paroi antérieure du foetus In: Avni F, Robert Y (eds) Imagerie du foetus, Société Française de Radiologie, Paris, pp 75–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernanz-Schulman M, Genieser N, Ambrosino M et al. (1989) Bilateral duplex ectopic ureters terminating in the seminal vesicles: sonographic and CT diagnosis. Urol Radiol 11: 49–52

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoeffel JC, Drews K, Gassner I et al. (1993) Pseudotumoral cystitis. Pediatr Radiol 23: 510–514

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • King BF, Hattery RR, Lieber MM et al. (1991) Congenital cystic disease of the seminal vesicle. Radiology 178: 207–211

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lebowitz RL (1997) Trying to understand the cloacal malformation: a systematic approach in Difficulties in imaging and understanding of children’s disease. In: Willi U (ed) European Society of Pediatric Radiology, 20th postgraduate course. Springer, Heidelberg Berlin New York, pp 47–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Lebowitz RL, Vargas B (1987) Stones in the urinary bladder in children and young adults. AJR 148: 491–495

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis KM, Pinckert TL, Cain MP et al. (1998) Complications of intrauterine placement of a vesicoamniotic shunt. Obstet Gynecol 91: 825–827

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Merchant WC, Gibbons D, Gonzales ET (1984) Trauma to the bladder neck, trigone and vagina in children. J Urol 131: 747–750

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Newman BM, Karp MP, Jewett TC et al. (1986) Advances in the management of infected urachal cysts. J Pediatr Surg 21: 1051–1054

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pagon RA, Smith DW, Shepard TW (1979) Urethral obstruction malformation complex: a cause of abdominal muscle deficiency and the “prune belly”. J Pediatr 94: 900–906

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patten RM, Mack LA, Wang KY et al. (1990) The fetal genitourinary tract. Radiol Clin North Am 28: 115–130

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peters CA, Carr MC, Lais A et al. (1992) The response of the fetal kidney to obstruction. J Urol 148: 503–509

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pfister C, Wagner L, Dacher JN et al. (1996) Long-term bladder dysfunction in boys with posterior urethral valves. Eur J Pediatr Surg 6(4): 222–224

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pfister C, Dacher JN, Gaucher S et al. (1999) The usefulness of minimal urodynamic evaluation and pelvic floor biofeedback in children with chronic voiding dysfunction. Br J Urol 84: 1054–1057

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reuter KL, Lebowitz RL (1985) Massive vesicoureteral reflux mimicking posterior urethral valves in a fetus. J Clin Ultrasound 13: 584–587

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rimon U, Hertz M, Jonas P (1992) Diverticula of the male urethra: a review of 61 cases. Urol Radiol 14: 49–55

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rink RC, Mitchell ME (1990) Physiology of lower urinary tract obstruction. Radiol Clin North Am 17: 329–334

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rittenberg MH, Hulbert WC, Snyder HM et al. (1988) Protective factors in posterior urethral valves. J Urol 140: 993–996

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sebire NJ, Von Kaisenberg C, Rubio C et al. (1996) Fetal megacystis at 10–14 weeks of gestation. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 8: 387–390

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stephens FD, Fortune DW (1993) Pathogenesis of megalourethra. J Urol 149: 1512–1516

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas AJ, Pollack MS, Libshitz HI (1986) Urachal carcinoma: evaluation with computed tomography. Urol Radiol 8: 194–198

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Whitaker RH, Sherwood T (1986) An improved hook for destroying posterior urethral valves. J Urol 135: 531–532

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Willi UV, Lebowitz RL (1979) The so-called megaureter-megacystis syndrome. AJR 133: 409–416

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University Hospital Charles Nicolle, 1, Rue de Germont, 76031, Rouen, France

    J. N. Dacher MD, PhD (Professor)

Authors
  1. J. N. Dacher MD, PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Radiology Department of Radiology, University Hospital Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 34, 8036, Graz, Austria

    Richard Fotter MD (Professor and Chairman, Head) (Professor and Chairman, Head)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2001 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Dacher, J.N. (2001). Abnormalities of the Lower Urinary Tract and Urachus. In: Fotter, R. (eds) Pediatric Uroradiology. Medical Radiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-59428-1_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-59428-1_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-43557-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-59428-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation