Ureteropelvic junction obstruction

Last revised by Liz Silverstone on 12 Nov 2024

Ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction or pelviureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction partially obstructs the passage of urine from the renal pelvis to the ureter. It is the most frequent cause of hydronephrosis in the foetus and can also present in adulthood. 

UPJ obstruction on antenatal ultrasound affects about 1:500 foetuses. It is more common in males and is usually unilateral (90%) being more frequent on the left 12.

Many cases are asymptomatic and identified incidentally when the renal tract is imaged for other reasons. When symptomatic, symptoms include recurrent urinary tract infections, stone formation and even a palpable flank mass. They are also at high risk of renal injury even by minor trauma.

Classically intermittent pain after drinking large volumes of fluid with a diuretic effect is described, due to the reduced outflow from the renal pelvis into the ureter 8.

Pelviureteric junction obstruction is most commonly unilateral but is reported to be bilateral in ~30% (range 10-49%) of cases 10. There is a recognized predilection towards the left side (~67% of cases).

During embryogenesis, the pelviureteric junction forms usually around the fifth week and the initial tubular lumen of the ureteric bud become recanalized by ~10-12 weeks. The pelviureteric junction area is the last to recanalize. Inadequate canalization is thought to be the main embryological explanation of a pelviureteric junction obstruction. Extrinsic obstructions secondary to bands, kinks, and aberrant vessels also are commonly encountered.

Interestingly, research has failed to identify any anatomically-discrete pelviureteric junction although physiologically there is evidence of a sphincter-like action in this region 11.

  • congenital (neonatal)

    • idiopathic and often unknown; proposed causes include

      • abnormal muscle arrangement at the pelviureteric junction

      • anomalous collagen collar at pelviureteric junction

      • ischemic insult to pelviureteric junction region

      • urothelial ureteral fold

    • extrinsic ureter compression or encasement

      • crossing vessel (at pelviureteric junction)

  • adult

Dilated renal pelvis is described as "ballooned renal pelvis" with collapsed proximal ureter.

Traditionally intravenous urography/pyelography (IVU/IVP) has been performed for assessing for pelviureteric junction obstruction. The administration of furosemide may be used to assist in confirming the diagnosis, in particular, to exclude a dilated non-obstructed upper collecting system (so-called 'baggy pelvis').

  • will often show a dilated renal pelvis with a collapsed proximal ureter

  • Doppler sonography: the obstructed kidneys may show higher resistive indices

May show evidence of hydronephrosis +/- caliectasis with collapsed ureters. Useful for assessing crossing vessels at the pelviureteric junction, especially when surgical intervention is planned 5,7.

  • unilateral or bilateral pelviureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction

  • upstream hydronephrosis

  • associated congenital renal abnormalities (MCDK / duplication anomalies/ ectopia etc)

  • possible source of extrinsic ureteric compression

Renal scintigraphy can quantitate the degree of obstruction:

  1. Tc-99m-MAG3: Agent of choice due to a high extraction rate, which may be necessary for an obstructed system. Diuretic (furosemide) renogram is performed to evaluate between obstructive vs nonobstructive hydronephrosis. The non-obstructive hydronephrosis will demonstrate excretion (downward slope on renogram) after administration of diuretic from the collecting system. Whereas mechanical obstructive hydronephrosis will show no downward slope on renogram, with retained tracer in the collecting system.

  2. Tc-99m-DTPA: Not the agent of choice because of predominantly glomerular filtration of Tc-99m-DTPA. Glomerular function declines earlier and more rapidly than does tubular function in obstructive uropathy. Tc-99m-DTPA may be used if the kidney is known to have good function.

Treatment depends on the underlying cause. In a majority of congenital cases, the condition is benign, and usually, no intervention is required. However, when there is a definitive structural obstruction (commonly adult cases), surgical intervention with pyeloplasty or stenting may be necessary.

General imaging differential considerations include:

Cases and figures

  • Figure 1: hydronephrosis due to PUJ obstruction
  • Case 1: hydrographic MR urogram
  • Case 1: 3D
  • Case 2: ultrasound
  • Case 2: scintigraphy
  • Case 3: from accessory renal artery
  • Case 4
  • Case 4
  • Case 5: with calculus
  • Case 6
  • Case 7
  • Case 8: extrinsic ureter compression by fibrosis
  • Case 9: post-pyeloplasty
  • Case 10: excretory MR urogram
  • Case 11: involving lower pole moiety of duplex kidney
  • Case 12
  • Case 13: with contralateral bifid ureter
  • Case 14: with extrarenal pelvis
  • Case 15
  • Case 16: chronic PUJ obstruction
  • Case 17
  • Case 18
  • Case 19
  • Case 20: severe
  • Case 21: right retrograde pyelography
  • Case 22
  • Case 23
  • Case 24
  • Case 25
  • Case 26
  • Case 27
  • Case 28
  • Case 29
  • Case 30
  • Case 31: bilateral
  • Case 32
  • Case 33
  • Case 34: horseshoe kidney with PUJ obstruction
  • Case 35: with MCDK

Imaging differential diagnosis

  • Parapelvic cyst
  • Left parapelvic cysts and right PUJ obstruction
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