Ectopic ureter opening into the seminal vesicle in an infant: a case report and review of the Japanese literature

Abstract

A case is presented of an ectopic ureter opening into the seminal vesicle associated with hypodysplastic kidney in an infant. We reviewed 135 cases (139 ureteral units) of male ectopic ureter from the Japanese literature and, of the 139 ectopic ureters, 109 were single-system ectopic ureters, and 26 ureters were associated with the ureteral duplication. Sixty-three and 73 ureters opened into the urinary tract and seminal tract, respectively. In patients 15 years or older, 65 cases of ectopic ureter opened into the seminal tract and 33 cases opened into the urinary tract, whereas in children under 15 years, the ectopic orifice was located more often in the urinary tract (26 cases) than in the seminal tract (8 cases). Presenting symptoms differed according to the location of the ectopic orifice. Ectopic ureters opening into the urinary tract most often presented with urinary tract infection and abdominal or lumbar pain. On the other hand, voiding and ejaculatory symptoms as well as perineal or genital pain were characteristic in ectopic ureters opening into the seminal tract. Of the 83 associated renal segments that were surgically removed, dysplasia, hypoplasia and aplasia were found in 22, 24, 14 cases, respectively. It was noteworthy that 48 of the 53 single ectopic ureters opening into the seminal vesicle were associated with ipsilateral renal dysgenesis.