Ultrasonography in evaluation of urinary tract infection

A 2 year (1986-1987) retrospective study was done to evaluate the usefulness of ultrasonography in the detection of urinary tract abnormalities in urinary tract infection. 107 patients who presented to the Paediatric Department of the Singapore General Hospital with urinary tract infection were studied. 79 patients underwent ultrasonography of which 17 (21%) were found to have abnormalities. Of these 3 (4%) were found to be false positives. Abnormalities detected include hydronephrosis (15 patients), hydroureter (1 patient) and ureterocoele (1 patient). 50% of patients with ureteric reflux were also detected on ultrasonography. The degree of false negatives could not be evaluated as patients with normal ultrasonography were not subjected to intravenous urography.