Personalized management of childhood ureterocele over six years by a single surgeon

Establishing a general approach to the treatment of ureterocele is quite challenging. The aim of this study is to evaluate the factors influencing the treatment and follow-up plan algorithm specific to pediatric patients diagnosed with ureterocele, and to question their clinical significance. Patients diagnosed with ureterocele and managed by a single surgeon were included in the retrospective descriptive study. Patients who were operated on in a tertiary children's hospital between 2017 and 2023 were included. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data, as well as details of surgeries performed, were obtained from medical records and analyzed. A total of 11 children were included in the study, with 7 (63.6%) being female. The average age at presentation was noted. Complaints included hydronephrosis/hydroureteronephrosis (HN/HUN) in 11 patients, antenatal hydronephrosis in 6 patients, antenatal ureterocele in 2 patients, urinary tract infection (UTI) in 6 patients, and abdominal pain in 2 patients. Ureterocele was present on the right side in 5 patients, left side in 5 patients, and bilaterally in 1 patients. Duplex renal collecting system anomaly was observed in 8 patients. Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) was detected in 3 patients. Scarring on static scintigraphy was present in 6 patients. Endoscopic intervention was performed in 6 patients, ureteroneocystostomy and ureterocele excision in 3 patients, upper pole heminephrectomy in 3 patients, and no procedure in 2 patients. Our study emphasizes the necessity of individualized treatment planning for each patient during the approach to ureterocele management, following detailed evaluations of treatment protocols.