Congenital Midureteral Stenosis in Children: A 13-year Retrospective Study based on Data from a Large Pediatric Medical Center

Abstract

Background: Midureteral stenosis is very rare in children and can cause congenital hydronephrosis. We report our experience treating children with congenital midureteral stenosis at our center, focusing on the differences in preoperative diagnosis and treatment compared with other congenital obstructive uropathies.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 26 children diagnosed with congenital midureteral stenosis at our center between January 2007 and December 2020, including preoperative examination methods, intraoperative conditions, and postoperative follow-up results.Results: Of the 1625 children treated surgically for ureteral narrowing, only 26 (1.6%) were diagnosed with midureteral stenosis, including 15 infants and 11 children; 68% were boys; 48% were affected on the left side; and 88% had isolated ureteral stenosis. In all, 50% of the children presented with prenatal hydronephrosis, and 50% presented with abdominal pain or a mass. All children underwent urinary ultrasound and intravenous urography (IVU) preoperatively; the diagnostic rate of ultrasound was 92.3%. Only 7 (26.9%) children underwent pyelography. All children underwent surgery. The ureteral stenotic segment was less than 1 cm long in 96% of the children. The mean follow-up duration was 22 months (range: 6-50 months). One child developed anastomotic strictures. Urinary tract obstruction was relieved in the other children without long-term complications.Conclusions: Congenital midureteral stenosis is rare, accounting for 1.6% of all ureteral obstructions, and its diagnosis is very important. Urinary ultrasound has a high diagnostic rate and should be the first choice for midureteral stenosis. Retrograde pyelography can be used when diagnosis is difficult, but routine retrograde pyelography is not recommended. Congenital ureteral stenosis has a relatively short lesion range, largely within 1 cm. The treatment is mainly resection of the stenotic segment and end-to-end ureteral anastomosis, with a good prognosis.