Radiological evaluation of obstructive uropathy in children

Early detection of obstructive uropathy in children is of crucial importance as it leads to prevention of a number of complications and impending renal failure. A series comprising of 51 patients from both sexes up to the age of 12 years was studied. The imaging modalities used were plain films of abdomen [KUB], ultrasonography [USG], intravenous urography [IVU], micturating cystourethrography [MCUG] and ascending [retrograde] pyelography. The commonest cause of obstruction seen was due to calculi in the renal tract. Ultrasonography proved to be highly sensitive in picking up early cases of obstruction. Male children were affected more often than female children. Obstruction in urinary passage at all levels was seen, extending from kidneys to the urethra. It was also seen that obstruction was unilateral, bilateral, acute, chronic, complete, incomplete, and painful or silent. In view of our study, routine screening ultrasound examination of every child is advised to detect silent cases of unilateral obstruction