Ectopic ureters

Ectopic ureters

An ectopic ureter is one that drains to regions other than the bladder. Ectopic ureters are almost always associated with ureteric duplication and are bilateral in 10%. The female - to-male ratio is 7:1. In females, the ectopic ureter opens either into the urethra below the sphincter or into the vagina ( Figure 82.3 ). Such a child would complain of incontinence of urine despite normal voiding. In contrast, the male child is always continent as the ur eter opens above the external urethral sphincter. Computed tomo-urography (CTU) or magnetic resonance urography (MRU) is diagnostic.