Urological Health Chronic Kidney Disease An Overview of Ureterocele A birth defect that obstructs urine flow from the kidneys to the bladder By Abby Norman Abby Norman LinkedIn Abby Norman is a freelance science writer and medical editor. She is also the author of "Ask Me About My Uterus: A Quest to Make Doctors Believe in Women's Pain (2018)." Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 05, 2021 Medically reviewed by Jonathan B. Jassey, DO Medically reviewed by Jonathan B. Jassey, DO Facebook Jonathan Jassey, DO, is the founding pediatrician at Concierge Pediatrics in Long Island, New York. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Each kidney has a single ureter that allows urine to pass into the bladder. Ureteroceles are a congenital abnormality that causes a ureter to swell. This ballooning at the end of one or both ureters prevents normal urine flow between the kidneys and bladder. This article explains the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of ureteroceles. Symptoms Ureteroceles happen during embryonic development. That means if you have one, you were born with it. Most of the time, medical professionals diagnose ureteroceles at birth. Typically a person who has a ureterocele doesn't experience symptoms. It's possible that if you were born with a ureterocele, you might be more prone to getting urinary tract infections (UTIs) or kidney infections. If you get UTIs or kidney infections frequently, even starting in childhood, or if you have urinary symptoms that seem to keep coming back (or never go away), you may have been born with a ureterocele. These symptoms could include: Pain or burning when urinating (dysuria) Urine that smells bad Having to urinate frequently/being woken up at night to urinate (nocturia) Blood in the urine (hematuria) Abdominal, flank, and back pain (which may be cyclic) Abdominal tenderness Trouble urinating or being completely unable to urinate (urinary retention) Fever and chills Failure to thrive in newborns Kidney stones (in older children and adults) Typically, people only have a ureterocele on one side (unilateral), but it can occur in both ureters (bilateral). Some research indicates the abnormality happens more often on the left side. Diagnosis Since a ureterocele is a congenital (present at birth) condition, it's often diagnosed when a prenatal ultrasound shows hydronephrosis (swelling) of a kidney. Medical professionals can also diagnose it shortly after a baby is born up to age 2. While most ureteroceles can be diagnosed with an ultrasound, a healthcare provider might also order several other kinds of tests. These may include: X-ray: A series of X-rays of the bladder (voiding cystourethrogram) can help a healthcare provider see how well your bladder empties. Nuclear renal scan: This test will show a healthcare provider if your kidneys have been damaged. MRI or CT scan: If you need surgery, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT scan) can help evaluate the urinary tract before a procedure. When healthcare providers diagnose the condition in an older child or adult, they often discover it during a routine test or scan that's looking for something else. Children or adults who have frequent urinary tract or kidney infections may also ultimately be diagnosed with a ureterocele. About one in every 4,000 children will be diagnosed with a ureterocele. They are more common in females. Multiple Diagnoses Sometimes, when a healthcare provider discovers a ureterocele, they will also find other conditions. Or ureteroceles may lead to other problems. Some examples include: Duplex kidney: Ninety percent of people born with ureteroceles are also found to have two ureters in a single kidney, a condition known as duplex kidney. Duplex collecting system: When a person has both a duplex kidney and a ureterocele, it's sometimes referred to as a "duplex collecting system." Hydronephrosis: When a ureterocele causes the urine flow from the kidney to the bladder to become obstructed, the blockage causes the kidney to swell. Vesicoureteral reflux: The obstruction and swelling can also cause a backflow of urine into the kidneys. The blockage and swelling can usually be seen on an ultrasound, making the imaging technology a reliable way to diagnose the condition. What to Expect at a Kidney Ultrasound Classification When your doctor tells you that you have a ureterocele, they may also tell you its classification. Ureteroceles are classified by whether: They are on one or both sidesThey are part of a single or duplex systemThe swelling is mild or severeThey are inside (intravesical or orthotopic) or outside (extravesical or ectopic) the bladder When to Call a Doctor If you have symptoms of a UTI or kidney infection, you should contact your doctor. They will order lab tests, including a urinalysis and blood test to see if there is an infection. If these infections are severe or go untreated, they can lead to a severe blood infection. While uncommon, this potentially life-threatening complication, called sepsis, can happen to infants, children, or adults. Treatment If your doctor diagnoses a ureterocele during a prenatal exam, doctors may start antibiotics before birth to help reduce the risk of infection. Other treatments include surgery and watchful waiting. Surgery The goal of surgery is to eliminate the blockage. When a newborn has a ureterocele, a simple puncture procedure can often be performed shortly after birth. This procedure can resolve the "ballooning" of the ureter by "popping" it. For children and adults with ureteroceles, a doctor may perform the puncture procedure in an emergency, such as if you develop sepsis. Otherwise, the treatment a doctor recommends will usually depend on how severe the condition is and whether or not the person has any symptoms. Watchful Waiting If a ureterocele is mild and not causing symptoms, your doctor might suggest a "watch and wait" approach. Certain things, however, may require further intervention, like antibiotics or surgery. Further treatment may be recommended if: Your kidney function is affectedYour kidney has been damagedYou are experiencing urinary symptomsYou are getting recurrent UTIsYou have unmanageable pain What Is a Urologist? Summary Ureteroceles are a congenital condition where the end of a ureter swells, preventing urine flow from the kidney to the bladder. Whether managed conservatively or surgically, most ureteroceles do not cause long-term problems. A Word From Verywell If you have been diagnosed with a ureterocele, you may be worried. Rest assured that most of the time, people with ureteroceles rarely experience any long-term problems. With proper diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring, you can live a healthy life with a ureterocele. If you notice any signs of infection, like a burning sensation while urinating, a constant need to urinate, foul odor, cloudy urine, pelvic pain, or fever, seek medical attention right away. 2 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Xie D. Ureterocele: review of presentations, types and coexisting diseases. Int Arch Urol Complicat. 2017;3(1). doi:10.23937/2469-5742/1510024 Schultza K, Todab LY. Genetic basis of ureterocele. Curr Genomics. 2016;17(1):62-69. doi:10.2174/1389202916666151014222815 Additional Reading Holcomb G. Suggested terminology for duplex systems, ectopic ureters, and ureteroceles. Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 1985;20(4):468. doi:10.1016/s0022-3468(85)80269-4 The Urology Care Foundation/The American Urological Association.What is a ureterocele? UCSF Department of Urology.Ureteroceles. By Abby Norman Abby Norman is a freelance science writer and medical editor. She is also the author of "Ask Me About My Uterus: A Quest to Make Doctors Believe in Women's Pain." See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit