UpDated Role Of Magnetic Resonance Urography In Evaluation Of Obstructive Uropathy In pediatrics

Abstract

Obstructive uropathy is a condition in which the flow of urine is blocked, causing it to back up and injure one or both kidneys. Obstruction is a leading cause of damage to the urinary tract. It may predispose to urinary tract infection and renal failure. Early diagnosis and treatment of urinary obstruction can reverse the renal damage. The pathophysiologic effects of obstruction depend on its level, the extent of involvement, the child’s age at onset, and whether it is acute or chronic. Obstructive lesions occur at any level from the urethral meatus to the calyceal infundibula. Most childhood obstructive lesions are congenital although urinary tract obstruction can be caused by trauma, neoplasia, calculi, inflammatory processes, or surgical procedures. The goal of imaging in case of obstructive uropathy is to determine the presence and the degree of obstruction, assess renal function, and to determine the cause of obstruction. MRU is a powerful examination that has the distinct advantage of providing both anatomic and functional information in one examination. MRU allows a one-stop-shop evaluation of the renal parenchyma, collecting system, vasculature, bladder, and surrounding structures.