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Urinary and Genital Disorders (Children)

Abnormal Findings on Neonatal Screening

11/03/2009

Question:

What is Bilateral pelviectasis and what causes it?

Answer:

There are many potential causes. It means that the renal pelvis of each kidney, where the urine drains in the kidney, is enlarged. Usually it is not a serious condition. It may occur because of folding of the upper ureter, mild obstruction of the ureter, or urinary reflux. In most cases we just repeat the renal sonogram if there are no other worrisome features, such as hydronephrosis (the calyces are significantly enlarged).

If the clinician is concerned about urinary reflux, in which urine backs up from the bladder to the kidney, then a voiding cystourethrogram may be ordered, in which a small plastic tube is inserted into the urinary bladder, the bladder is filled with x-ray dye, and x-rays are taken while the child is voiding. Reflux predisposes the child to kidney infections. However, again, usually it is not a serious condition.

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Response by:

Jack S Elder, MD, FACS, FAAP Jack S Elder, MD, FACS, FAAP
Clinical Professor of Urology
School of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University