Abstract
Introduction: Vesicoureteral reflux appears in 20–50% of pediatric patients with recurrent
urinary tract infections. The most common method of diagnosing this disease is
voiding cystourethrography. However, contemporary pediatric radiology does not favor
this method due to exposure to X-radiation. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the
usefulness of 2D/3D/4D contrast-enhanced voiding urosonography in the diagnosis and
treatment monitoring of vesicoureteral reflux in children and the possibility of using contrast-enhanced
voiding urosonography to replace voiding cystourethrography. Material
and methods: Voiding cystourethrography and contrast-enhanced voiding urosonography
were conducted in 80 pediatric patients in order to assess sensitivity, specificity,
positive and negative predictive values as well as the number of vesicoureteral refluxes
detected by each of the two methods. The second stage of the study involved performing
voiding urosonography in an extended protocol in 58 children in order to determine
the usefulness of three-dimensional (3D/4D) examinations in the assessment of vesicoureteral
reflux and the ability to assess the urethra. Results: The concordance between
the two methods was 86.95%. The sensitivity of voiding urosonography was 84.51%,
specificity – 90.99%, positive predictive value – 85.71% and negative predictive value –
90.17%. A 3D/4D assessment of the urinary bladder and transperineal 2D morphological
assessment of the urethra were possible in all patients (100%). Assessment of the urethra
during micturition with the use of 2D/3D/4D techniques was possible in all patients in
whom voiding was elicited (95.83%), and 3D/4D assessment of vesicoureteral reflux was
possible in all patients with reflux (100%). Although the application of 3D/4D techniques
allowed accurate specification of the grade of reflux in all cases (100%), it appeared
particularly useful in differentiating between grades II and III (70.97%). Conclusions:
Contrast-enhanced voiding urosonography allows the diagnosis and monitoring of treatment
of vesicoureteral reflux in pediatric patients as well as assessment of the urethra
in both girls and boys. The method is characterized by high sensitivity and specificity.
Moreover, it is safe, relatively inexpensive and can replace voiding cystourethrography.
Citation
ID:
170413
Ref Key:
woniak2013journal2d/3d/4d