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KEY FACTS
Terminology
Imaging
Clinical Issues
TERMINOLOGY
Synonyms
- Bladder cyst, cobra head ureter
Definitions
- Congenital cystic dilation of distal submucosal portion of 1 or both ureters within urinary bladder
- Categorized according to ureterocele position
- Intravesical: Completely contained within urinary bladder
- Extravesical: Partially extends into bladder neck, urethra, or perineum
- Categorized according to ureterocele insertion
- Orthotopic (simple): Orifice located in normal anatomic position in bladder trigone
- Ectopic: Orifice located anywhere else
- Ectopic ureter may drain to other genitourinary locations without ending as ureterocele
- Categorized according to type of kidney drained
- Single-system ureterocele: Kidney gives rise to single collecting system with solitary ureter
- Typically simple, intravesical ureterocele
- Duplex-system ureterocele: Kidney has completely duplicated collecting system with 2 complete ureters
- 1 ureteral insertion must be ectopic by definition (often extravesical)
- Single-system ureterocele: Kidney gives rise to single collecting system with solitary ureter
- Cecoureterocele: Unique subtype elongated beyond ureteral orifice by tunneling under trigone & urethra
- Any type of ureterocele may become obstructed or prolapse into bladder neck & cause hydronephrosis
IMAGING
General Features
Fluoroscopic Findings
Ultrasonographic Findings
MR Findings
Nuclear Medicine Findings
Radiographic Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
Selected References
- Benya EC et al: Assessment of distal ureteral and ureterovesical junction visualization on contrast-enhanced voiding urosonography. Pediatr Radiol. 51(8):1406-11, 2021
- Houat AP et al: Congenital anomalies of the upper urinary tract: a comprehensive review. Radiographics. 41(2):462-86, 2021
- Kim J et al: The fate of lower pole hydronephrosis after transurethral incision of upper pole ureteroceles in children with duplex systems. J Pediatr Urol. 16(6):847.e1-7, 2020
- Calle-Toro JS et al: Morphologic and functional evaluation of duplicated renal collecting systems with MR urography: a descriptive analysis. Clin Imaging. 57:69-76, 2019
- Nabavizadeh B et al: A novel approach for an old debate in management of ureterocele: long-term outcomes of double-puncture technique. J Pediatr Urol. 15(4):389.e1-5, 2019
- Nabavizadeh B et al: Three-dimensional virtual sonographic cystoscopy for detection of ureterocele in duplicated collecting systems in children. J Ultrasound Med. 37(3):595-600, 2018
- Chalouhi GE et al: Prenatal incision of ureterocele causing bladder outlet obstruction: a multicenter case series. Prenat Diagn. 37(10):968-74, 2017
- Chowdhary SK et al: Ureterocele in newborns, infants and children: ten year prospective study with primary endoscopic deroofing and double J (DJ) stenting. J Pediatr Surg. 52(4):569-73, 2017
- Cohen SA et al: Examining trends in the treatment of ureterocele yields no definitive solution. J Pediatr Urol. 11(1):29.e1-6, 2015
- Gander R et al: Evaluation of the initial treatment of ureteroceles. Urology. 89:113-7, 2015
- Sarsu SB et al: Multiple stones in a single-system ureterocele in a child. APSP J Case Rep. 6(2):19, 2015
- Timberlake MD et al: Minimally invasive techniques for management of the ureterocele and ectopic ureter: upper tract versus lower tract approach. Urol Clin North Am. 42(1):61-76, 2015
- Torres Montebruno X et al: Fetoscopic laser surgery to deobstruct a prolapsed ureterocele. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 46(5):623-6, 2015
- Adeb M et al: Magnetic resonance urography in evaluation of duplicated renal collecting systems. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 21(4):717-30, 2013
- Swana HS et al: Transurethral neo-orifice (TUNO) a novel technique for management of upper pole obstruction in infancy. Int Braz J Urol. 39(1):143, discussion 144, 2013
- Payabvash S et al: Application of magnetic resonance urography in diagnosis of congenital urogenital anomalies in children. Pediatr Surg Int. 24(9):979-86, 2008
- Sozubir S et al: Prenatal diagnosis of a prolapsed ureterocele with magnetic resonance imaging. Urology. 62(1):144, 2003
- Berrocal T et al: Anomalies of the distal ureter, bladder, and urethra in children: Embryologic, radiologic, and pathologic features. RadioGraphics 22: 1139-64; 2002
- Chavhan GB: The cobra head sign. Radiology. 225(3):781-2, 2002
- Keesling CA et al: Sonographic appearance of the bladder after endoscopic incision of ureteroceles. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 170(3):759-63, 1998
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References
Tables
Tables
KEY FACTS
Terminology
Imaging
Clinical Issues
TERMINOLOGY
Synonyms
- Bladder cyst, cobra head ureter
Definitions
- Congenital cystic dilation of distal submucosal portion of 1 or both ureters within urinary bladder
- Categorized according to ureterocele position
- Intravesical: Completely contained within urinary bladder
- Extravesical: Partially extends into bladder neck, urethra, or perineum
- Categorized according to ureterocele insertion
- Orthotopic (simple): Orifice located in normal anatomic position in bladder trigone
- Ectopic: Orifice located anywhere else
- Ectopic ureter may drain to other genitourinary locations without ending as ureterocele
- Categorized according to type of kidney drained
- Single-system ureterocele: Kidney gives rise to single collecting system with solitary ureter
- Typically simple, intravesical ureterocele
- Duplex-system ureterocele: Kidney has completely duplicated collecting system with 2 complete ureters
- 1 ureteral insertion must be ectopic by definition (often extravesical)
- Single-system ureterocele: Kidney gives rise to single collecting system with solitary ureter
- Cecoureterocele: Unique subtype elongated beyond ureteral orifice by tunneling under trigone & urethra
- Any type of ureterocele may become obstructed or prolapse into bladder neck & cause hydronephrosis
IMAGING
General Features
Fluoroscopic Findings
Ultrasonographic Findings
MR Findings
Nuclear Medicine Findings
Radiographic Findings
Imaging Recommendations
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
Microscopic Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Demographics
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
Selected References
- Benya EC et al: Assessment of distal ureteral and ureterovesical junction visualization on contrast-enhanced voiding urosonography. Pediatr Radiol. 51(8):1406-11, 2021
- Houat AP et al: Congenital anomalies of the upper urinary tract: a comprehensive review. Radiographics. 41(2):462-86, 2021
- Kim J et al: The fate of lower pole hydronephrosis after transurethral incision of upper pole ureteroceles in children with duplex systems. J Pediatr Urol. 16(6):847.e1-7, 2020
- Calle-Toro JS et al: Morphologic and functional evaluation of duplicated renal collecting systems with MR urography: a descriptive analysis. Clin Imaging. 57:69-76, 2019
- Nabavizadeh B et al: A novel approach for an old debate in management of ureterocele: long-term outcomes of double-puncture technique. J Pediatr Urol. 15(4):389.e1-5, 2019
- Nabavizadeh B et al: Three-dimensional virtual sonographic cystoscopy for detection of ureterocele in duplicated collecting systems in children. J Ultrasound Med. 37(3):595-600, 2018
- Chalouhi GE et al: Prenatal incision of ureterocele causing bladder outlet obstruction: a multicenter case series. Prenat Diagn. 37(10):968-74, 2017
- Chowdhary SK et al: Ureterocele in newborns, infants and children: ten year prospective study with primary endoscopic deroofing and double J (DJ) stenting. J Pediatr Surg. 52(4):569-73, 2017
- Cohen SA et al: Examining trends in the treatment of ureterocele yields no definitive solution. J Pediatr Urol. 11(1):29.e1-6, 2015
- Gander R et al: Evaluation of the initial treatment of ureteroceles. Urology. 89:113-7, 2015
- Sarsu SB et al: Multiple stones in a single-system ureterocele in a child. APSP J Case Rep. 6(2):19, 2015
- Timberlake MD et al: Minimally invasive techniques for management of the ureterocele and ectopic ureter: upper tract versus lower tract approach. Urol Clin North Am. 42(1):61-76, 2015
- Torres Montebruno X et al: Fetoscopic laser surgery to deobstruct a prolapsed ureterocele. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 46(5):623-6, 2015
- Adeb M et al: Magnetic resonance urography in evaluation of duplicated renal collecting systems. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 21(4):717-30, 2013
- Swana HS et al: Transurethral neo-orifice (TUNO) a novel technique for management of upper pole obstruction in infancy. Int Braz J Urol. 39(1):143, discussion 144, 2013
- Payabvash S et al: Application of magnetic resonance urography in diagnosis of congenital urogenital anomalies in children. Pediatr Surg Int. 24(9):979-86, 2008
- Sozubir S et al: Prenatal diagnosis of a prolapsed ureterocele with magnetic resonance imaging. Urology. 62(1):144, 2003
- Berrocal T et al: Anomalies of the distal ureter, bladder, and urethra in children: Embryologic, radiologic, and pathologic features. RadioGraphics 22: 1139-64; 2002
- Chavhan GB: The cobra head sign. Radiology. 225(3):781-2, 2002
- Keesling CA et al: Sonographic appearance of the bladder after endoscopic incision of ureteroceles. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 170(3):759-63, 1998
