Transabdominal and endoluminal ultrasonic scanning of the lower ureter

I.v. urography is often insufficient for visualization of the intramural and juxtavesical portion of the ureter. In 30 consecutive patients (July 1st 1993-January 31st 1994) where i.v. urography was inconclusive, but had evoked suspicion of pathology in--or adjacent to--the lower ureter, abdominal ultrasound (including color Doppler) and endoluminal (transrectal or -vaginal) ultrasound were performed. A final diagnosis was obtained in 26: Ureteric stone (14), prostatic cancer (4), bladder cancer (2), stricture of ureteric orifice (1), TURB sequelae (1), ureterocele (1), bladder stone (1), detrusor hypertrophy (1), normal ureter (1). Abdominal ultrasound scanning gave more, same, and less information than i.v. urography in 8, 8, and 10 cases, respectively. In 14 of 22 cases abdominal color Doppler revealed a unilateral abnormal "ureteral jet"--in 13 of the cases on the side with suspected obstruction. Endoluminal ultrasound scanning gave more, same, and less information than i.v. urography in 20, 4, and 2 cases, respectively. The 20 cases where endoscanning gave more information included detection of 14 distal ureteric stones. In 3 cases it identified other types of distal obstruction, in two cases it determined the length of cancer obstruction and in one it detected the presence of ureteral dilatation. It is concluded, that endoluminal ultrasound of the ureter is indicated when i.v. urography evokes suspicion of pathology in the intramural or juxtavesical part of the ureter.