[Ectopic ureter as cause of urinary incontinence in girls].

Continuous urine dripping together with normal micturition is the classical picture of ectopic ureter in girls. During the years 1982 to 1996, eleven girls with such abnormality have been treated at our department. The diagnostic work-up included: intravenous pyelogram (IP), ultrasonography (US), renal scintiscan, cystogram, cystoscopy and/or vaginoscopy, as well as a thorough exam of the external genitalia under general anesthesia. Ten girls had a double renal system, one of them being bilateral; one girl had simple kidneys with renal ectopia. Treatment was heminephrectomy with ureterectomy in 9 cases, ureteroureterostomy with preservation of the hemikidney in one case, and nephrectomy with ureterectomy in the case with a simple system. Urinary incontinence in girls due to ectopic ureter is an uncommon disease. Eigthty-five% of the cases are associated to renal duplication. IP is highly sensible to defect renal duplication; direct vision of the ectopic ureter meatus, canalization and roentgenologic confirmation of the suspected diagnosis are required prior to surgery. Heminephrectomy has been the most common treatment; however, early diagnosis by means of US will promote more conservative surgical approaches.