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Challenges of Management of Duplex System
Ureterocele in an 18-Year-Old Woman: A Case Report
Abubakar Sadiq Muhammad* and Khalid Abdullahi
Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto, Nigeria.
ISSN: 2692-532X DOI: 10.33552/AUN.2021.02.000547
Annals of
Urology & Nephrology
Case Report Copyright © All rights are reserved by Abubakar Sadiq Muhammad
This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License AUN.MS.ID.000547.
Abstract
Background: Ureterocele is a cystic dilatation of the intravesical part of the ureter. Duplex system ureterocele is rare and occur more in females.
Patients usually present with recurrent abdominal pain and urinary tract infection. The diagnosis and the treatment of duplex system ureterocele
in women may pose diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. We report a case of duplex system ureterocele in a woman highlighting diagnostic and
therapeutic challenges.
Case report: This is 18-year-old woman who presented with recurrent right flank pain, intermittent fever of 7months duration and lower urinary
tract symptoms. There was right renal angle tenderness on abdominal examination. Abdominopelvic ultrasound and computerized tomographic scan
urogram (CTU) revealed right hydronephrosis and a ureterocele. Accurate diagnosis was missed by all the imaging studies done. She had excision of
the ureterocele and common sheath reimplantation of the two ureters on account of duplex system ureterocele. She had uneventful recovery. The
urethral catheter, stents, drain and the stitches were remove 15 and 16 days postoperatively. She was discharged 20 days post operatively.
Conclusion: Duplex system ureterocele may present with recurrent pyelonephritis. Computerized tomographic scan urogram is necessary
for accurate diagnosis. There may be diagnostic and or therapeutic challenges. Common sheath ureteral reimplantation is associated with good
outcome.
Keywords: Duplex system; challenges; management; ureterocele; woman; cystic dilatation
Abbreviations: CTU: Computerized Tomographic Scan Urogram; IVU: Intravenous Urogram; DMSA: Dimercaptosuccinic Acid
Received Date: February 26, 2021
Published Date: March 24, 2021
*Corresponding author: Dr. Abubakar Sadiq Muhammad, Department of
Surgery, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto, Nigeria.
Introduction
Ureterocele is cystic dilatation and outpouching of the intra
vesical part of the ureter [1]. The incidence of ureterocele in the
new born range from 1/500 to 1/4000 and female are affected
4-7times more than males [2]. Duplex system ureterocele occur in
1% of the population and in relation to upper moiety ureter in 80%
of the cases [3]. Bilateral ureterocele occur in 10% of the cases [4].
When the diagnosis is missed in childhood, the patients may later
present with recurrent infection, septicemia, stone and renal failure
[5]. High index of suspicion is required for accurate diagnosis
[5]. Embryologically, duplex system arises when 2 ureteric buds
emerge from the distal part of mesonephric duct. The future lower
moiety ureter separates from the Wolffian duct early and attaches
to the future urinary bladder in the urogenital sinus superior
laterally acquiring short intravesical course making it prone to
reflux [1]. While the upper moiety ureteric bud separates lately
from the mesonephric duct, therefore acquiring long intravesical
course and draining into the urinary bladder inferior and medial to
the lower moiety ureter [1]. The upper moiety ureter is associated
with ectopia and ureterocele as postulated in the Weighert-
Meyer rule [6]. However, Stephen described an exception to this
rule [7]. Stephen’s ectopic pathway states that the ectopic ureter
may not only insert distal to the normal ureteric orifice but may