Potential role of colour-Doppler cystosonography with echocontrast in the screening and follow-up of vesicoureteral reflux

Abstract

Colour-Doppler cystosonography, because of the absence of ionizing radiations, has great advantages, particularly in patients needing prolonged monitoring. Despite experiences reported in the literature, this technique has a role in the diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux. Our group chooses colour-Doppler cystosonography for the follow-up of medium-severe grade vesicoureteral reflux already diagnosed by radiology and/or scintigraphy. Cystoscintigraphy is employed only to confirm cases resulting negative at ultrasonography.

Febrile urinary tract infections in young children: recommendations for the diagnosis, treatment and follow‐up

“…The technique having no radiating dose is cystosonography. Scientific evidence has shown that this technique has a high sensitivity and specificity (47–49). The limits of the method could be overcome by skilled operators who, however, are not yet widely available (50,51) [grade B].…”

Voiding urosonography with ultrasound contrast agents for the diagnosis of vesicoureteric reflux in children

“…A number of different names and acronyms have been put forward to denote US examination for the diagnosis of VUR using intravesical UCAs. These include simply “sonography/ultrasound” [ 4 – 6 ], “reflux sonography” [ 7 ], “cystography” [ 8 – 10 ], “cystosonography” [ 11 – 15 ], “cystourethrosonography” [ 16 ] and “urosonography” [ 17 – 23 ]. They are more often used in combination with one or more of the following terms: “echo-enhanced”, “contrast-enhanced” and “voiding”.…”

Echo-Enhanced Color Doppler Cystosonography of Vesicoureteral Reflux in Children. Improvement by stimulated acoustic emission

“…One of the major restrictions of ee‐CS is the poor delineation of the US contrast agent in a non‐distended ureter and renal pelvis, thus creating equivocal results. New approaches such as the use of harmonic imaging or additional color Doppler sonography (CDS) applications to ee‐CS were not able to overcome these restrictions completely (2, 14, 20).…”