title: [Lower pole pedicle in a series of 84 pyelo-ureteral junction syndromes surgically treated in children].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the involvement and consequences of the lower pole pedicle (LPP) associated with ureteropelvic junction syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study in 81 children presenting a total of 84 ureteropelvic junction syndromes operated consecutively between 1994 and 1998. Urinary tract ultrasound and cystography were systematically performed. Renal scintigraphy (DTPA or MAG 3) was performed in 80 children. Preoperative intravenous urography was performed in 60 children. LPP was considered to be present when its participation in the obstruction was confirmed intraoperatively (Anderson Hynes technique with uncrossing of the vascular pedicle).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group I: a LPP was revealed in 24 kidneys (28.5% of cases), 17 left kidneys and 7 right kidneys, in 14 boys and 10 girls, with a mean age of 4 years (range: 2 months-14 years). Group II: 60 kidneys without LPP (71.5% of cases), 32 left kidneys and 28 right kidneys, in 40 boys and 17 girls, with a mean age of 2 years (range: 1 month-15 years). The most frequent presenting complaint was recurrent low back pain in 58% of cases in group I (14/24) and 5% of cases in group II (3/60). The mean age at diagnosis was 6 years. Hydronephrosis was detected by antenatal ultrasound in 33% of cases in group I (8/24) and in 72% of cases in group II (43/60). Kidney function in group I was greater than 40% in 19 patients, between 20 and 39% in 2 patients and less than 20% in 2 patients. These results were not influenced by age at diagnosis and were not significantly different from those observed in group II. Renal malrotation was observed in 2 cases in group I and in 12 cases in group II. Histology of the junction revealed nonspecific fibrosis in the same percentage of cases (91%) in the two groups. The mean follow-up was 15 months (range: 2 months-5 years). No surgical failure was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ureteropelvic junction syndrome associated with a LPP appears to present later with recurrent low back pain in older children. It does not worsen the functional prognosis of the affected kidney. LPP can be visualized by duplex ultrasound. It may act as an inducer of obstruction by aggravating a pre-existing abnormality of the ureteropelvic junction. When LPP is associated with isolated dilatation of the pyelocaliceal cavities, the risk of subsequent decompensation requires closer ultrasound surveillance, until puberty.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Urologie II, CHU Lapeyronie, Montpellier, France. c-lopez@chu-montpellier-fr
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: A'ch
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Veyrac
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Averous
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007668:Kidney / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000098:blood supply*; D007682:Kidney Pelvis; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013577:Syndrome; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*