Ectopic ureter
Ectopic ureter (or ureteral ectopia) is a medical condition where the ureter, rather than terminating at the urinary bladder, terminates at a different site.[1][2] In males this site is usually the urethra, in females this is usually the urethra or vagina.[3] It can be associated with renal dysplasia,[4] frequent urinary tract infections, and urinary incontinence (usually continuous drip incontinence).[5] Ectopic ureters are found in 1 of every 2000–4000 patients,[6] and can be difficult to diagnose, but are most often seen on CT scans.[7]
Ectopic ureter | |
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Other names | Ureteral ectopia |
These two illustrations are posterior views of all the possible locations of ectopic ureter insertion (red dots) in a female (left illustration) and a male (right illustration). The different colors indicate embryologic origin of structure: a) red = metanephric duct (ureter), b) yellow = urogenital sinus (bladder and urethra), c) blue = Wolffian duct (Gartner's ducts in female, seminal vesicles and vasa deferentia in male), pink = Müllerian ducts (vagina in female, prostatic utricle in male), green = hindgut (rectum). | |
Specialty | Urology |
Ectopic ureter is commonly a result of a duplicated renal collecting system, a duplex kidney with 2 ureters. In this case, usually one ureter drains correctly to the bladder, with the duplicated ureter presenting as ectopic.[8]
See also
- Ectopia (disambiguation)
References
- "Definition: ectopic ureter from Online Medical Dictionary". Retrieved 2007-12-01.
- "An Ectopic Ureter". Retrieved 2007-12-01.
- "UrologyHealth.org - Pediatric Conditions: Abnormalities - Ectopic Ureter". Archived from the original on 2008-11-14. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
- "Abnormal Ureteric Development". Retrieved 2007-12-01.
- Gordon M, Cervellione RM, Hennayake S (2007). "Constant urinary dribbling due to an ectopic ureter and delays in diagnosis". Clin Pediatr (Phila). 46 (6): 544–6. doi:10.1177/0009922807299311. PMID 17579108.
- "Duplicated Ectopic Ureter" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-02-10.
- "Diagnosis Of Ectopic Ureter As A Cause Of Urinary Incontinence". Retrieved 2009-02-10.
- "Duplicated Collecting System". Retrieved 2009-02-10.