Ultrasound screening of infants for urinary tract abnormalities

Purpose: To determine postnatal frequency of urinary tract abnormalities detected by ultrasonographic screening in asymptomatic infants in the district of Solin, Kaštela, Split and Trogir. We wanted to evaluate the value and usefulness of ultrasound screening in order to discover urinary tract abnormalities in primary pediatric health care. Materials and methods: Ultrasound screening of urinary tract was performed on 1000 healthy, unselected infants ranging between 0 and 6 months of age (511 boys and 489 girls). Results: Urinary tract disorders were found in 22 infants (2,2%). These pathologic entities included 5 cases of duplication of the renal collecting system, 2 malrotated kidneys, 1 multicystic renal dysplasia, 1 adrenal hemorrhage, 1 renal ectopia (pelvic kidney), 1 renal hypoplasia, 2 vesico-ureteric reflux (dilatation of collecting system), 4 hydronephrosis, 1 hydronephrosis with primary megaureter, 2 hydrocalicoses. We discovered neuroblastoma of the adrenal gland in 2 infants. Conclusion: Ultrasound screening was performed on asimptomatic newborns and infants and urinary tract abnormalities were found in 2,2%. Our results indicate that infant ultrasonographic screening is a useful and valuable method of detecting urinary tract malformations. Early diagnosis and early treatment of urinary tract anomalies should be the main goal of kidney damage prevention.