[Megacalycosis as a diagnostic problem in children]

Abstract

Megacalycosis is an uncommon, congenital renal abnormality, characterized by nonobstructive dilatation of the renal calyces with normal renal pelvis, ureter and bladder. This condition is due to underdevelopement or hypoplasia of Malpighie's pyramids. It usually occurs unilateraly as the isolated anomaly with strong male predominance. Megacalycosis itself does not impair the renal function but it can be the cause of urinary tract infections and calculus formation. This congenital defect is incidentally found by urography during the examination for urolithiasis or urinary tract infections or calculus formation. The images on radograms can be confused with obstructive or refluxing hydronephrosis or postinflamtory changes typical for pyelonephritis chronica. In case of megacalycosis surgical treatment is unnecessary. Patients with this condition should be followed-up with ultrasound and prevention of urinary tract infections or urolithiasis. Here we would like to report on the case of megacalycosis in a ten-year-old girl reffered to our deprtament due to UTI. Diagnosis of megacalycosis was established by typical urography findings: dilatation of renal calyces, no distention or obstruction of renal pelvic and ureter. The renal function was normal. No evidence of abnormality in cystoureterogram and uroflowmetry test was detected.