Importance of radiographic study of urinary tract infection in children

Hong, Chang Ho; Kim, Kyu Earn; Kim, Pyung Kil

Abstract

In urinary tract infection of childhood, the intravenous pyelogram is helpful in identifying gross malformations of urinary tract and appraising gross renal function. The voiding cystourethrogram evaluates configuration and function of the lower urinary tract and is most useful for delineating the presence and severity of vesicoureteral reflux. The intravenous pyelogram is suggested for every male patients with one documented urinary infection, regardless of age and all female patients after the first recurrence. This study was made on 54 cases of urinary tract infection performing intravenous pyelogram and 27 cases done voiding cystourethrogram. There were eighteen abnormal findings(33.3%) that appeared to be causative factors in the urinary tract infection. The most common finding was double collecting system(7 cases), next one, hydronephrosis with hydroureter(5 cases). The abnormal findings possibly related to urinary tract infection were 13 cases(24.1%), and poor function of kidney and renal scarring(5 cases) weremost common cases. Also there were 3 cases of spina bifida in twenty three cases showing normal excretory urogram. Vesicoureteral reflux was found in fourteen cases(26%). primary reflux was 11 cases, and secondary reflux 3 cases. The Politano-Leadbetter tunneling technique has been used in 8 cases. The results of operation were good except one cases due to recurrent vesicoureteral reflux. Therefore this findings suggested the importance of radiographic investigation of the urinary tract infection in the management of urinary tract in childhood.