Duplex ureter

Preventative MRI Review for Duplex ureter Awareness

Duplex ureter also known as duplicated collecting system, is when two ureters are coming from one kidney and connect to the bladder. Normally each kidney has one ureter that leads to the bladder, and a duplex ureter is a congenital (born with) condition that is discovered incidentally or in the past if there was a problem with the ureters or kidney. Normally the ureters are collapsed and not well seen by imaging, however when there is a problem, the ureters distend with urine and become easily seen by imaging. A duplex ureter can also join to one ureter before connecting with the bladder.Having duplex ureters is associated with vesicoureteral reflux (backflow of urine from the bladder), ectopic ureter (where the ureter drains into somewhere other the bladder - this would be detected at an early age), or a ureterocele (where there is ballooning at the end of the ureter that connects to the bladder).