Abstract

MARTINS, Rute et al. Contrast‑Enhanced Voiding Urosonography for the Diagnosis of Paediatric Vesicoureteral Reflux - A Single Centre Experience. Acta Radiol Port [online]. 2021, vol.33, n.1, pp.17-23.  Epub July 15, 2021. ISSN 2183-1351.  https://doi.org/10.25748/arp.20918.

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Background: Contrast-enhanced voiding urosonography (ceVUS) has become, in recent years, an excellent alternative method to flouroscopic voiding cystourethrogram for the diagnose of vesicoureteral reflux in children, with comparable sensitivity and absence of ionizing radiation. In our country, this method has been implemented at the Serviço de Radiologia of the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve (CHUA) in 2017. The objective of this paper is to provide a detailed description of the technique and analyse its results since implementation.

Methods: Single-centre retrospective study of demographic characterization, clinical indications, imaging findings and safety assessment of urosonography exams, performed over a period of about 3 years.

Results: A total of 105 ceVUS have been performed in 98 children. The most frequent clinical indication for this exam was recurrent febrile urinary tract infection (29.5%) and the least frequent the follow-up of vesicoureteral reflux (10.5%). In 35.2% of exams, reflux was observed. The most frequent reflux grade was grade II (8.2%), and the least frequent was grade V (2.9%). Grade I reflux was not identified in any patient. No adverse events were found regarding the use of the contrast agent (SonoVue®).

Discussion: CeVUS is a safe technique, with excellent-quality images and good sensitivity to evaluate urinary tract disease.

Conclusion: It is expected an increase in the receptivity of the urosonography for the study of paediatric nephropathology, namely in what concerns the international consensus for the diagnose of vesicoureteral reflux.

Keywords : Vesicoureteral reflux; Contrast-enhanced voiding urosonography; Children; Diagnosis..

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