RENAL-FUNCTION AND VESICOURETERAL REFLUX IN CHILDREN WITH URETEROCELES

A total of 215 ureteroceles were present in 41 children with single-system and 154 children with double-system ureteroceles. Males were predominant in the single-system group while the reverse was true in patients with double-system ureteroceles. Single-system ureteroceles occurred more commonly on the left side. In double-system ureteroceles there was minimal renal function in 74% of the ureterocele-bearing moieties, 26% of the ipsilateral lower moieties, and 3% of the contralateral kidneys. Vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) was present in 17% of the ureterocele-bearing ureters, 54% of the ipsilateral second ureters, and 28% of the contralateral ureters. In the single-system ureteroceles, 20% of the ipsilateral kidneys had minimal renal function and 9% of both the ipsilateral and contralateral ureters had VUR. Differences in laterality, VUR, and function of the subservient renal tissue suggest that single-system ureteroceles are a different disease entity from the double-system type and should be considered separately in any discussion of the management of ureteroceles.