Blind-ending bifid ureter – a case report of rare congenital anomaly and its sonographic appearance

Abstract

Aim of the study: We report a case of a blind-ending bifid ureter in a 67-year-old woman with ascites initially diagnosed with B-mode and Color Doppler ultrasonography and afterwards verified with contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography. A literature review of the pathogenesis, sonographic appearance with differential diagnoses and clinical significance is also presented and discussed. Case description: The patient was referred for an abdominal ultrasound due to enlarged abdomen circumference. Ultrasound revealed signs of chronic pancreatitis with cavernous transformation of the portal vein and large ascites resulting in bilateral pelvicalyceal system dilatation. Additionally, we have preliminarily diagnosed right-sided, dilatated blind-ending bifid ureter with associated contralateral complete duplication of the ureter and the collecting system. These findings, initially revealed with ultrasound, were confirmed with contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first detailed description of sonographic appearance of blind-ending bifid ureter.