Interventional uroradiology in paediatrics: a potpourri of diagnostic and therapeutic options.

The objective of the present work is to describe the indications and application of interventional, image guided diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in the paediatric urinary tract. The different indications and techniques are listed and illustrated, comprising most established indications such as percutaneous nephrostomy, sonographic guided renal biopsy, and interventional evaluation as well as treatment of childhood renal vascular disease. Additionally, some newer applications such as echo-enhanced urosonography, interventional treatment of urinary tract stenosis, or sonographically guided catheterism for deployment of therapeutic agents are included. Though the procedures are safe and successful in general, complications may occur, and peri- and post-interventional monitoring is mandatory to insure early detection and adequate management. Sometimes additional treatment or a 2nd procedure may become necessary. In conclusion, though rather seldom indicated, image guided interventional procedures are performed successfully for diagnosis and treatment of a variety of diseases of the paediatric urinary tract. They can be considered a valuable additional modality throughout infancy and childhood that should be performed by skilled and well trained paediatric radiology staff at specialised referral centres.