title: [3D endosonography to clarify distal ureteral processes].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluation of 3D endoluminal sonography as a diagnostic modality in lower ureteral pathologies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between December 93 and December 97, 36 consecutive patients with negative findings on IVP and still suspected ureteral obstruction were referred for transrectal or transvaginal endosonography. Patients mean age was 63 years and all of them presented clinically obvious symptoms such as colic pain and miction disturbances.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 31 of 36 patients (86%) 3D endosonography was diagnostic although previous IVP was negative. Reasons for ureteral obstructions were ureteral calculi in 23, urological tumours in 5 and rectal carcinoma in two cases. In one patients a gynecological tumour caused the symptomatology. In the remaining 5 patients CT/MRT or invasive retrograde ureterography/ureteroscopy had to be performed for the final diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of 3D endosonography shows encouraging results in the diagnosis of distal ureteral pathologies. In case of negative findings on IVP it should therefore precede invasive diagnostic modalities or cost intensive imaging techniques.
authors.affiliation: Radiologische Universitätsklinik Ulm. Stefan.kraemer@medizin.uni-ulm.de
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Krämer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Volkmer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mattes
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brändle
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Görich
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Gottfried
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003085:Colic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019160:Endosonography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012007:Rectum; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014513:Ureter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014515:Ureteral Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014621:Vagina
vernacular_title: 3D-Endosonographie zur Klärung distaler Harnleiterprozesse.