Single system ureteroceles in childhood.

Fifteen patients with single system ureterocele are reviewed (three bilateral). There was an equal male: female incidence and the majority presented with a urinary tract infection. Whereas pathology was usually confined to the ureterocele-bearing renal unit, in three patients there were other major urological abnormalities. The ureteroceles were best demonstrated by ultrasonography or intravenous pyelography but the latter proved to be more sensitive, probably because there usually was sufficient function in the involved kidney. Surgical management consisted of excision of the ureterocele with ureteric reimplantation in 10 patients (12 ureteroceles) and nephro-ureterectomy in two. Four ureteroceles in three patients were managed non-operatively. Overall results of surgery were satisfactory.