ROENTGENOLOGIC SEQUELAE OF NEONATAL SEPTICEMIA AND URINARY TRACT INFECTION

¹ Research project undertaken during elective period in Diagnostic Radiology as a Second Year Medical Student, 1971.

The clinical and roentgenologic findings of 40 newborns with urinary tract infection and/or sepsis are reviewed. The variety of abnormal roentgenologic findings is presented.

The sequelae of neonatal pyelonephritis include: renal parenchymal scarring; papillary necrosis; persistent vesicoureteric reflux with or without dilatation of the collecting system; and generalized renal atrophy.

Although the minimum time required for renal parenchymal scarring to become roentgenologically recognizable is unknown (3 months in one of our cases), we suggest repeat roentgenologic examination within 6 months in those who present with abnormal roentgenologic findings on the initial examination, and within 1 year in those who have had normal urography during or shortly after the initial infection or sepsis.

The differential diagnosis may be difficult or impossible to determine in an older child with a small scarred kidney if laboratory and roentgenologic documentation is missing. Pyelonephritic scarring, late sequelae of renal vascular accident in the newborn period, and so-called dysplasia have a similar roentgenologic appearance.

Kidney growth has been documented in patients with persistent vesicoureteric reflux and promptly treated recurrent urinary tract infection.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. I. SILAS, C. S. RESNIK, and A. M. LEVINE Bilateral Primary Cystic Arthrosis of the Acetabulum. A Case Report J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., May 1, 1996; 78(5): 775 - 8. [Full Text]