Vessels around the ureteropelvic junction: significance and imaging by conventional radiology

Abstract

We studied the influence of vessels crossing the ureteropelvic junction and of the grade of hydronephrosis in 86 patients who underwent endoureteropyelotomy. With a follow-up ranging from 1 to 12 years, the presence of crossing vessels had a significant negative influence on the outcome and recurrence rate of the procedure. The success rate was 82% when no vessels were present but only 33% when crossing vessels were documented. In 13 of 15 failures (87%), a crossing vessel was found at open pyeloplasty. The degree of hydronephrosis was a less potent detrimental factor, with an 81% success rate in low-grade and 54% in high-grade hydronephrosis. The best results (90% success) were obtained in patients with no crossing vessels and low-grade hydronephrosis and the worst (30% success) in those with high-grade hydronephrosis in the presence of crossing vessels. Selection of patients according to those prognostic factors is recommended. Conventional intravenous urographic imaging techniques proved insufficient, and only angiography provided diagnostic accuracy; less-invasive methods are desirable.