Renal and urological abnormalities occurring with Mullerian anomalies.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the spectrum and frequency of renal and urological abnormalities in a cohort of patients with uterine anomalies.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted an ethics committee approved review of 164 women referred to the imaging department from a specialist gynaecological anomaly clinic. Imaging acquired over 8 years was assessed and this was sufficient for assessment of the morphology of the gynaecological and renal tracts in 113 patients.

RESULTS: Absent unilateral kidney was the most common abnormality (31.8%), most frequent in Type 3 uterine anomalies. Absent kidneys occurred in other anomaly types at lower frequency. Pelvic ureteric remnants were found in 9 of 36 patients with absent kidneys; these inserted ectopically, most commonly into the vagina. Urological abnormalities were found in 11 patients with two kidneys, including ectopic ureters, scarred kidneys and dysplastic kidney. Obstructed hemivaginas were associated commonly but not invariably with an absent kidney.

CONCLUSION: Previously unreported renal and urological abnormalities have been described in patients with congenital uterine anomalies. These have significant clinical impact. Ectopic ureters can cause incontinence, and potentially cause pain and become infected. Knowledge of the ureteric course, including ureteric remnants, is essential before complex laparoscopic and vaginal surgery.