topic 10 - paediatric urinary tract and adrenals Flashcards
Why is it important to recognise persistent fetal lobulation?
should not be confused with renal scarring and may persist into adulthood
How can you tell the difference between persistent fetal lobulation and renal scarring?
• Fetal lobulation is distinguished from scarring by the presence of a smooth renal contour, regular spacing, and absence of calyceal blunting.
• The indentations spare the renal pyramids, unlike scarring, in which the renal parenchyma overlying the pyramids appears thinned.
always occurs between medullary pyramids
What is a junctional renal parenchymal defect?
• The renal junctional parenchymal defect (interrenicular septum or fissure) is the most prominent of these grooves
should not be confused with scarring
• extending from the hilum to the cortex
• it is caused by perirenal fat adherent to the renal capsule along a cleft on the renal surface.
• It is frequently seen in the anterosuperior aspect of the kidney
In what ways does the infantile kidney differ from the adult?
- The central echo complex is much less prominent due to less peripelvic
- Renal cortical echogenicity is increased in the premature infant kidney compared with the liver and spleen.
- term infant kidney is often the same as the echogenicity of the adjacent normal liver
- The medullary pyramids are relatively larger and tend to appear more prominent (more hypoechoic).
- The corticomedullary differentiation is greater
What are some causes of mild hydronephrosis is children
- Mild degrees of distention can be seen in normal children, particularly after recent high intake of fluids or diuretics.
- A normally distended urinary bladder can also cause functional ureteral obstruction and mild distention of the renal collecting systems.
What is the sonographic appearance of the paediatric adrenal gland?
- attains an adult echo pattern by one year of age.
- 0-2 months There is a ‘triple stripe’ appearance, with the hypoechoic outer layers representing mostly cortex and the echogenic middle layer mostly consisting of medulla.
- It appears large and is easy to identify because there is little peri-renal fat.
- By the end of the first 12 months, the adrenal gland has become much more difficult to see.
- It will be located in the suprarenal region and has a V, Y or Z shape.
What is the key sign of obstructive nephropathy?
splitting of the calyces and a corresponding increase in size of the renal pelvis.
What measurements indicate obstruction?
A renal pelvis AP diameter of 10 mm or greater in the transverse plane is considered significant, but any calyceal dilatation is also significant.
How should a linear transducer be used to image a paediatric kidney?
- magnifica¬tion of selected parts of each kidney is essential to depict smaller structures in the parenchyma to best advantage.
- Limiting the field of view to the half of the kidney closest to the transducer and focused evaluation of only one or two pyramids and the surrounding cortex often helps resolve areas of interest in the pyramids better
Why is it important to be familiar with the neonatal kidney appearance?
• To those unfamiliar with this normal neonatal appearance, the relatively large, normal, hypoechoic pyramids may be misinterpreted as dilated calices or renal cystic disease and the relatively thinner hyperechoic cortex may be misinterpreted as cortical scarring or even ischemic changes.
What can increase the thickness of the bladder wall?
inflammation or muscular hypertrophy.
When are post void bladder views helpful?
may be helpful in patients with a neurogenic bladder or dilated upper collecting system, because a distended bladder may cause increased dilation but improve after voiding.
How can you reduce patient motion artefact?
• High frame rates and low persistence are
Which measurements are important for the paediatric kidney?
Obtain the maximum longitudinal length of both kidneys and plot the measurements on a paediatric renal length chart. Previous measurements should be included on the chart for comparison. The transverse AP diameter of the renal pelvis of each kidney should be measured.
What are horseshoe kidneys ore disposed to and why?
Abnormal rotation of renal pelves often results in ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction; the horseshoe kidney is thus predisposed to infection and stone formation.
How would you differentiate horseshoe kidney from other major congenital variants?
in horse shoe kidney the isthmus of renal parenchyma is crossing the spine.
Consider the other variants:
Renal agenisis: There is a unilateral kidney only.
Renal Ectopia
Simple: In this case the kidneys are clearly not in the pelvis.
Crossed: In this case, the kidneys are on opposite sides of the abdomen.
Horseshoe kidney is very common occuring in 1 in 400 people. The two lower poles are connected by parenchyma or fibrous tissue. It highlights the importance of visualising the full dimension of the kidney otherwise this will be missed.
What are the most common developmental obstruction types?
- PUJ, vesico-ureteric junction (VUJ) obstruction
- posterior urethral valves (PUV, only in boys)
- complete ureteral duplication associated with a ureterocele, also known as a obstructed duplex kidney
What is the most common reason for paediatric renal ultrasound referral?
Urinary tract infection
What is the ai of paediatric renal ultrasound in the setting of 1st UTI?
- It is to check for a developmental structural anomaly, such as a pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction (PUJ).
- Developmental obstruction can go undetected up to adult life, especially if it is unilateral
- if renal function of the obstructed kidney is to be preserved, it must be detected and repaired.
- Children that have structural anomalies are at higher risk of contracting UTIs. These can affect the overall renal function
What is a non ultrasound way to assess the kidney obstruction?
, the nuclear medicine DTPA or Mag 3 are used to assess the point of obstruction.
What is important to consider when following up a previously obstructed kidney?
, the pelvicalyceal system can remain dilated after the obstruction has been removed, and care must be taken not to diagnose hydronephrosis (implying re-obstruction) when, in fact, it is simply a baggy, over stretched system that is functioning normally
What is UPJO and what can cause it?
- most common cause of significant prenatal hydronephrosis
- usually results from a functional stricture at the ureteropelvic junction (UPJ)
- or a crossing lower-pole renal vessel.
- There is also an associated increased incidence of congenital anomalies of the contralateral kidney.
How does UPJO ureteropelvic junction obstruction appear on ultrasound?
- diagnosis of hydronephrosis is based on the presence of a dilated renal pelvis and caliectasis.
- A variable amount of renal parenchymal tissue can be visualized.
- The ureter is normal in size and is not usually visualized by ultrasound
What is UVJO and what causes it?
ureterovesicular junction obstruction
• result of narrowing and aperistalsis of the distal ureter
• or an ectopic insertion.
- can also be obstructed by an intraluminal abnormality, such as a stone, blood clot, or fungus ball.
• There is a variable degree of dilation of the intrarenal collecting system and of the ureter proximal to the narrowing.
What causes primary megaureter?
the juxtavesicular ureter may be devoid of ganglion cells or may demonstrate muscular hypoplasia and/or mural fibrosis
• The submucosal tunnel and ureteral orifice are normal.
How does Ureterovesicular junction obstruction appear on ultrasound?
• typically shows hydronephrosis and hydroureter
• with a narrow segment of the distal ureter behind the bladder
• Doppler sonography may show a diminished or abnormal ureteral jet on the side of obstruction
- can also be obstructed anywhere along its course by extrinsic compression from a mass, such as a lymphoma or abscess.
How is ureterovesicular junction obstruction imaged beyond ultrasound to confirm diagnosis?
• MAG3 diuretic renography is typically used to clarify whether the dilation is caused by obstruction.
What is a frequent cause of bilateral hydronephrosis?
obstruction at the level of the bladder or bladder outlet.
What are the possible causes of bladder obstruction?
posterior urethral valves (PUVs)
• Patients with spinal dysraphism and hyperreflexive detrusor muscle activity will have a functional obstruction due to a neurogenic bladder
• A pelvic mass that obstructs the bladder outlet, such as rhabdomyosarcoma, or less commonly, a fibroepithelial polyp, can also be associated with bilateral hydronephrosis and hydroureter
How can posterior uretheral valves appear on ultrasound?
an irregular, thick-walled bladder.
• PUV can occasionally be diagnosed by ultrasound, with demonstration of a dilated posterior urethra.
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How are posterior uretheral valves diagnosed?
occasionally be diagnosed by ultrasound
However, VCUG( voiding cystourethrogram) should be performed for optimal visualization of the valves
How can a neurogenic bladder look?
thick-walled, trabeculated bladder
What further testing should be done when a patient presents with bilateral renal hydronephrosis?
- In a child with hydronephrosis detected by ultrasound, the bladder size and contractility and the urethra should be further evaluated with VCUG.
- VUR can be diagnosed and may be the cause of the UTD.
How are patient with VUR treated and how will it appear on ultrasound?
- Patients with reflux are often treated endoscopically with a submucosal, subureteric injection of a bulking agent.
- Follow-up sonography of the bladder will depict the implants, which over time may undergo changes in size and shape as well as calcification
- nonvisualization of the implant or a multilobed contour is associated with persistent reflux.
How can renal dysplasia and cyst formation occur in the fetus?
• if the urinary obstruction starts during the first half of gestation
What are some causes of unilateral renal dysplasia?
UPJ obstruction or ureterovesical junction (UVJ) obstruction.
What are some causes of bilateral renal dysplasia?
severe bladder outlet obstruction, usually due to urethral atresia or posterior urethral valves
How can the severity of renal dysplasia be explained?
• The severity of renal dysplasia is related to the timing and severity of obstruction to urine flow