Urinary tract diseases in adolescence: a radiological and clinical view

A total of 2,003 adolescent in-patients aged 14-19 years were studied. Of these 801 (40 per cent) were found to have urinary tract disease. In 224 patients (28 per cent) a previously undetected urinary tract anomaly was diagnosed: this number including 59 per cent of girls and 41 per cent of boys. This is the first analysis showing such a high frequency of urinary tract anomalies in clinical and radiological investigations during the period of adolescence. Of particular importance are minor anomalies, in so far as these are responsible for disorders to the flow of urine. It is thought that urinary tract anomalies manifest themselves in adolescence because of increased stress and a different pattern of life, as compared with that in the preceding era of childhood. The present paper shows the cardinal importance of radiological examination and of the radiologist's role in evaluating the dynamics of the process and the prognosis of the disease and, in helping to assess the future potential for physical stress in either work or sport.