Radiological imaging of urogenital tuberculosis in children with emphasis on ultrasound

This paper represents the largest recent review of imaging urogenital tuberculosis in children. The US findings in our three cases may be summarised as follows: 1. Bladder. A 'contracted' or non distended bladder; gaping ureteric orifices with ureters widely dilated down to bladder; mucosal irregularities of the bladder wall. 2. Kidneys. Increased echogenicity of calyceal area; destruction of medullary pyramids that was of mixed echogenicity; echo free cavities in the area of the medullary pyramids; ultimately gross involvement giving a 'hydronephrotic' appearance due to multiple irregular cavities; late involvement of the renal pelvis to give an intensely echogenic sinus rather than a dilated pelvis. On the basis of this experience we advocate that in cases of pyuria, dysuria and haematuria in which tuberculosis may be suspected the best imaging procedures are the simple ones of US and IVU. (orig.)