Blind-ending ureteral duplication with calculi

Abstract

or reflux. 3 Because of non-filling of the blind ureter on intravenous urography (IVU), the diagnosis of blind-ending ureteral duplication is best made with the help of retrograde pyelography. However, a blind-ending bifid ureter can be opacified on IVU if uretero-ureteral reflux is present. The anomaly can also be seen on computerized tomography. 4 We report a case featuring a long, blind-ending ureteral duplication complicated by stone formation. Case Report A 45-year old male was admitted with right loin pain, dysuria and frequency of micturition of 3 months duration. He reported passing stones in urine in the past, but had no history of fever or recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI). The patient had presented to another hospital with the same complaints 6 weeks before reporting to our unit. Cystoscopy at that hospital showed a normal bladder with no calculus in the bladder or the ureters. He came to our unit because of persistent pain. Laboratory investigations showed normal renal function. Urine microscopy and culture showed red blood cells in the urine, but no bacterial growth. Plain radiograph of the kidneys, ureters and bladder (KUB) revealed two radio-opaque shadows in the region of the lower third of the right ureter (Figure 1). However, IVU showed patent ureters with no calculus seen in either ureter (Figure 2). A pre-operative CT scan showed grossly normal kidneys and ureters with 2 extravesical masses in the pelvis. Cystoscopy in our unit revealed an edematous mass just caudal and medial to the right ureteric orifice. A guide wire introduced into the right ureter under fluoroscopic control showed that the radio-opaque shadows seen on KUB were extraureteral and extravesical. Right retrograde pyelography showed a patent ureter with opacification of a normal pelvicalyceal system. Transurethral resection of the bullous, edematous mass revealed another ureteric orifice. Retrograde pyelography through the other ureteric orifice revealed multiple filling defects and a long blind-ending ureter, with no opacification of the pelvi-calyceal system (Figure 3). Ureteroscopy through the second ureteric orifice confirmed the presence of 2 calculi, which were removed using a Dormia basket. Post-operatively the patient became pain free. Postoperative micturating cystourethrogram (MCUG) performed 3 months after calculus extraction from the duplicated ureter, showed no vesicoureteric reflux (VUR).