Hydronephrosis severity score: an objective assessment of hydronephrosis severity in children-a preliminary report

The main challenge in the management of antenatally diagnosed hydronephrosis and ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is to differentiate the one that is likely to resolve from the pathological one. In this study, a new hydronephrosis severity score (HSS), combining ultrasonographic and renographic parameters, has been developed. Hydronephrosis severity score was analyzed with regard to its usefulness in assessing the severity of UPJO, postoperative resolution, and interobserver reliability.

Hydronephrosis severity score was devised with three parameters: differential renal function (DRF), drainage curve pattern, and ultrasonogram grade (Table 1). Hydronephrosis severity score ranges were divided as 0-4, mild; 5-8, moderate; and 9-12, severe and compared with clinical outcomes (resolution, persistence, or surgical intervention) by retrospective case record review of children with unilateral UPJO. Among those who underwent surgery, surgical outcomes were compared with changes in HSS at 6-month follow-up. Hydronephrosis severity score was computed by three observers, and interobserver variability was calculated.

A total of 125 case records (male:female = 93:32; right:left = 44:81) were analyzed. Among the patients analyzed, none (0/59) with HSS 0-4 warranted surgery, whereas 1 of 35 patients with HSS 5-8 underwent surgery, and all (31/31) with HSS 9-12 underwent surgery (P = 0.001). Overall, hydronephrosis resolved in 65, persisted in 28, and required surgery in 32 patients. Mean (standard deviation) HSS was 2.1 (0.75) in whom it resolved, 6.2 (0.78) in whom it persisted, and 10.2 (0.79) in those who underwent surgery (analysis of variance P = 0.001). Among those who underwent surgery, a better recovery of HSS was noted in younger infants (aged 2-5 months) with higher pre-operative DRF. There was 94.4% median agreement between radiologists and the surgeon (kappa 0.851), indicating a very good interobserver agreement.

Loss of DRF on progressive renograms remains the accepted criterion of significant UPJO although the lost function does not always recover after pyeloplasty. Newer scoring systems keep evolving to predict the need for surgery as well as assess resolution of UPJO, and the study's preliminary report suggests that HSS could turn out to be one such useful tool. In this study, those who deteriorated were the ones with HSS ≥9. One can use this as a criterion and decide on intervention before DRF deterioration. Hydronephrosis severity score could also be applied as an objective parameter for quantifying improvement/deterioration after surgery and comparing outcomes across centers. The drawbacks of the present study are its small size and the retrospective nature. Further prospective studies are required to validate the usefulness of HSS.