| Article Access Statistics | | | Viewed | 8699 | | | Printed | 231 | | | Emailed | 0 | | | PDF Downloaded | 103 | | | Comments | [Add] | | | Cited by others | 4 | | |
|
Click on image for details.
|
|
| CASE REPORT |
|
|
|
| Year : 1997 | Volume
: 43
| Issue : 4 | Page : 104-5 |
Single unilateral ectopic bifid ureter with contralateral orthotopic quadrufid ureter--a rare combination.
AD Bhandarkar, AM Raju, MS Rao
Department of Urology, Kasturba Medical College Hospital, Manipal (D.K.), India., India
Correspondence Address:
A D Bhandarkar
Department of Urology, Kasturba Medical College Hospital, Manipal (D.K.), India.
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
PMID: 0010740737 
This is a report a case with a unilateral single ectopic ureter associated with ipsilateral incomplete duplication of upper third of the ureter, contralateral quadrufid ureter and L3 hemivertebra. These findings provide further evidence of a generalised mesenchymal or epithelial defect, which would explain a defective ureteral bud and metanephric development, besides associated anomalies.
Keywords: Case Report, Child, Preschool, Female, Human, Ureter, abnormalities,radiography,surgery,Urinary Incontinence, congenital,Urography,
How to cite this article:
Bhandarkar A D, Raju A M, Rao M S. Single unilateral ectopic bifid ureter with contralateral orthotopic quadrufid ureter--a rare combination. J Postgrad Med 1997;43:104 |
How to cite this URL:
Bhandarkar A D, Raju A M, Rao M S. Single unilateral ectopic bifid ureter with contralateral orthotopic quadrufid ureter--a rare combination. J Postgrad Med [serial online] 1997 [cited 2023 Jun 5];43:104. Available from: https://www.jpgmonline.com/text.asp?1997/43/4/104/391 |
Wide range of abnormalities may be associated with single unilateral ureteral ectopia. We report a rare combination of a bifid ureter opening into the urethra with contralateral quadrufid ureter.
A 3-year-old girl with urinary incontinence since birth, was referred from Pediatrics ward for urological evaluation. No obvious congenital anomalies were spotted at birth. There was no history of uirnary infections. On physical examination urine was noted to dribble intermittently from urethral orifice. Urianalysis, haemogram, blood urea, serum creatinine were all within normal limits. Plain X-ray of the lumbar spine revealed L3 hemivertebra. Intravenous urogram revealed normally functioning kidneys and presence of apparently duplicated ureters bilaterally in their upper thirds. At cystoscopy, a normal, orthotopic single right ureteric orifice and absence of the left hemitrigone were noted. A wide, patulous, left ureteric orifice was spotted just distal to bladder neck in the urethra. Right retrograde ureterogram showed a quadrufid proximal half of the ureter [Figure - 1]. Left retrograde ureterogram showed a bifid upper third of ureter [Figure - 2]. Voiding cystourethrogram failed to show vesicoureteric reflux on either side. Subsequently, exploration of the left ureter, excision of the ectopic ureteral stump and complete closure of its hiatus was done by a simple technique described by Gotoh et al[1] A left ureteric Politano-Ledbetter reimplantation was done. Urinary incontinence totally ceased postoperatively.
Reports from Japan reveal 70% of ectopic ureters being associated with single collecting systems. This is in contrast to the observations in the western literature of 70 to 80% association with duplex systems[1]. Several authors have commented on the association of ectopic ureters with other anomalies[2],[3],[4]. Presence of L3 hemivertebrae in our case, may be considered as a clinically inconsequential variety of spinal anomaly and variant of VATER syndrome. The most frequently encountered congenital anomalies in this syndrome are anal atresia (87%), vertebral defects (83%), radial dysplasia (50%), congenital heart disease (45%) and lower limb dysplasia, including hypoplasia or absence of either or both tibia and fibula, and absence of metatarsals (25%)[5],[6]. The case reported by Kaufman et al[5] describes the presence of hemivertebrae T12 with other spinal and rib deformities, imperforate anus, perianal fistula with the intravenous urogram showing a non-visualised left kidney. Further investigations to diagnose ectopic ureter were not done.
Renal dysplasia, ectopia, hydronephrosis, and hypoplasia has been described as associated renal anomalies with single ureteral ectopia[3]. Ureteral quadruplication is a rare condition. Only one case of bilateral quadruplication has been reported in the English literature[7], to our knowledge. The embryologic genesis of multiple ureters is best explained by more than one separate ureteral buds arising from the wolffian duct or by fission of a single ureteral bud. The latter explanation seems to be applicable in our case. Smith[8] described 4 types of triplicate ureters and he used term trifid ureter where all 3 ureters joined to drain through a single orifice. The right ureter in the case reported by Soderdahl DW et al[7] was called quadrufid ureter.
Our case showing ipsilateral incomplete duplication and contralateral quadrufid ureter in itself is one of the rare renal/ureteric anomalies associated with ureteral ectopia, which total combination, to the best of our knowledge, has not been previously reported in the English literature. Gotoh et al[1] had seen only 2 cases of ipsilateral incomplete ureteral duplication in their series of single ectopic ureters.
The presence of associated congenital anomalies with single ureteral ectopia suggests simultaneous mesenchymal and epithelial defect which would explain a coexistent defective ureteral but and metanephric development. A single factor, not yet identified and depending upon its severity, may be responsible for the variety of such associated anomalies during early intrauterine development.
| :: References | |  |
| 1. |
Gotoh J, Morita H, Tokunaka S, Koyanagi T, Tsuji I. Single ectopic ureter. J Urol 1983; 129:271-274.  |
| 2. | Prewitt LH Jr, Lebowitz RL. The single ectopic ureter. Amer J Roentgen 1976; 127:941-948. |
| 3. | Kesavan P, Ramakrishnan MS, Fowler R. Ectopia in unduplicated ureter in children. Brit J Urol 1977; 49:481-493. |
| 4. | Gill B. Ureteric ectopy in children. Brit J Urol 1980; 52:257-263. |
| 5. | Kaufman LR, Quinton B and Jernberg JL. Polydactyly / imperforate anus / vertebral anomalies syndrome. Lancet 1970; 1:841. |
| 6. | Sotolongo JR Jr, Rose J, Strauss L, Gribetz M. Single vaginal ectopic ureter and the VATER syndrome. J Urol 1982; 127:1181-1182. |
| 7. | Soderdahl DW, Shiraki IW, Schamber DT. Bilateral ureteral quadruplication. J Urol 1976; 116:255-256. |
| 8. | Smith I. Triplicate ureter. Brit J Surg 1946; 34:182.
|
Figures
[Figure - 1], [Figure - 2]
| This article has been cited by | | 1 |
Complex malformations of the female genital tract. New types and revision of classification |
|
| Acien P, Acien M, Sanchez-Ferrer M | | HUMAN REPRODUCTION. 2004; 19 (10): 2377-2384 | | [Pubmed] | | | 2 |
Complex genital malformation: ectopic ureter ending in a supposed mesonephric duct in a woman with renal agenesis and ipsilateral blind hemivagina |
|
| Acien P, Susarte F, Romero J, et al. | | EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS GYNECOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY. 2004; 117 (1): 105-108 | | [Pubmed] | | | 3 |
Controversies on genital malformations and embryology of the vagina |
|
| Acién, P. | | Acta Ginecologica. 2003; 60(1): 19-26 | | [Pubmed] | | | 4 |
Unilateral Isolated Bifid Ureter—A Case Report |
|
| S Das, P Dhar, RD Mehra | | J Anat Soc India. 2001; | | [VIEW] | |
|
|
|
|
