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Non-invasive vesicoureteral reflux imaging.
Brent W Snow1, Michael B Taylor
1University of Utah, School of Medicine, Primary Children's Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84113-1100, USA. brent.snow@hsc.utah.edu
Journal of Pediatric Urology
|May 22, 2010
Summary
Current non-invasive methods for diagnosing vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) show promise but require further development. While voiding ultrasonography and MRI techniques are improving, they still face challenges in accuracy and practicality compared to traditional methods.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) diagnosis traditionally relies on invasive, ionizing radiation-based methods.
- There is a clinical need for non-invasive and non-ionizing diagnostic alternatives for VUR.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate current non-invasive and non-ionizing diagnostic methods for VUR.
- To explore emerging technologies with the potential for non-invasive VUR detection.
Main Methods:
- Systematic PubMed literature search for VUR diagnostic techniques.
- Inclusion of data from professional society meetings and internal research.
Main Results:
- Voiding ultrasonography offers a non-ionizing option but requires invasive contrast and has variable sensitivity/specificity.
- Magnetic resonance cystography, while improved, remains costly and often requires sedation.
- Emerging techniques include MRI with gadolinium and a microwave-based bladder warming method to detect temperature changes indicating VUR.
Conclusions:
- Voiding cystourethrography is the current gold standard but involves radiation exposure and invasiveness.
- Newer technologies show potential but necessitate further research and refinement before widespread clinical adoption for VUR diagnosis.
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