[Renal function of contralateral kidney after total or partial removal of kidney with ectopic ureter].

The effects of partial or total removal of the kidney with ectopic ureter on the contralateral kidney were evaluated using DMSA renal uptake rate on 8 patients. After partial nephrectomy on 6 cases, the affected residual kidneys showed significant decrease in DMSA renal uptake rate in 2 cases in which the extirpated kidneys had normal renal tissue in part but did not show significant change in DMSA uptake rate in 4 cases in which the extirpated kidneys were dominated mainly with dysplasia. Post-operative increase in DMSA uptake rate of the contralateral kidneys were significant in 3 of 4 patients who had the operation before they became 2 years old. In 2 of these 3 cases, pre-operative scintigram showed extremely low rate of DMSA renal uptake. Four cases aged 2 years old and over did not show post-operative increase in the uptake rate. As we have previously reported on the cases with hydronephrosis, these results suggest that 1) existence of obstruction caused by ectopic ureter inhibit the development of the contralateral kidney and 2) the growth of the kidney can resume the release of that obstruction, if the release is made while the kidneys are still in developing stage.