Striation (longitudinal mucosal folds) in the upper urinary tract. 3. Urinary tract striation in children: some experimental observations.

Abstract

The findings in 37 children who showed striation in the renal pelvis and/or ureter have been reviewed. They fell into three groups: 24 had a story of recurrent urinary tract infections, in ten amounting to chronic pyelonephritis ; seven had a neurogenic disorder of the unrinary tract; six had congenital anomalies. Infection or liability to infection was a feature common to all three groups. In the main group, those with recurrent infections, striation might be the only abnormal sign, but it was often accompanied by slight, intermittent ureteric and/or pelvic dilatation due to reflux. In others it was accompanied by focal scarring. About two-thirds showed reflux on urethrocystography. Contrast studies were made in post-mortem and resected kidneys. In two normal babies fine shallow folds were demonstrable radiographically and histologically. In a baby with chronic pyelonephritis the folds were deeper. It is suggested that stretching by reflux deepens the normal folds so that, especially if they are stiffened by cellular infiltration, they may become visible as a striation pattern.