What does megaureter mean?
Megaureter is a ureter that is much wider than normal. The ureters are the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. A ureter that is wider than 3/8 inch is a megaureter. A megaureter may not drain urine normally. Urine may back up into the kidneys.
What causes megaureter?
This type is caused by a ureter that’s blocked and also suffers from reflux. This is dangerous, as the ureters get bigger and more blocked with time. People with this problem are more likely to get urinary tract infections.
What is a obstructive megaureter?
Introduction. Primary obstructive megaureter (POM) is one of the most commonly reported malformations of the urinary system in children. The term ‘Megaureter’ was introduced by Caulk in 1923 to describe a severe dilation of the distal ureter affecting a 32-year-old female.
Is megaureter congenital?
Congenital primary megaureter (PM) is an idiopathic condition in which the bladder and bladder outlet are normal but the ureter is dilated to some extent. It may be obstructed, refluxing or unobstructed and not refluxing.
What are the causes of bilateral hydronephrosis?
Bilateral hydronephrosis occurs when both kidneys are affected….Common causes of hydronephrosis include the following:
- Kidney stones.
- Urinary tract infections.
- Congenital blockages.
- Enlarged prostate.
- Tumors or cancer (particularly cancers in the lower abdomen affecting the bladder, prostate, colon or cervix)
How do you fix a dilated ureter?
Most people with hydronephrosis will have a procedure called urinary catheterisation to drain the urine from their kidneys. Depending on the underlying cause, medication or surgery may be needed afterwards to correct the problem.
What is the cause of bilateral hydronephrosis?
Causes. Bilateral hydronephrosis occurs when urine is unable to drain from the kidney into the bladder. Hydronephrosis is not itself a disease. It occurs as a result of a problem that prevents urine from draining out of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder.
What is the difference between refluxing megaureter and obstructed megaureter?
If there is reflux, the diagnosis is “refluxing megaureter” or “megaureter from reflux”. If there is obstruction, the diagnosis is “obstructed megaureter” or “primary obstructed megaureter”. If there is neither reflux or obstruction, then the diagnosis is “primary non-obstructed megaureter”.
Is hydronephrosis associated with primary megaureter reflux?
There is associated hydronephrosis, and active peristaltic waves can be seen on ultrasound. In refluxing primary megaureter, vesicoureteric reflux is demonstrated (see vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) ) In non-refluxing unobstructed primary megaureter, there is absent or only a minor degree of hydronephrosis.
What are the two important questions about megaureter?
The two important questions about megaureter are whether there is reflux (backwash) of urine causing the megaureter or whether there is blockage at the ureterovesical junction causing megaureter (Figure 1). If there is reflux, the diagnosis is “refluxing megaureter” or “megaureter from reflux”.
What are the different types of megaureter?
In very rare circumstances, there can be reflux and obstruction and the diagnosis is “refluxing obstructed megaureter”. The two most common types of megaureter by far are the “primary non-obstructed megaureter” and the “refluxing megaureter”. Figure 1: Image of a ureterovesical junction obstruction. What are the symptoms of a megaureter?