1 Background

A ureterocele is a dilation of the submucosal ureter due to a delay in Chawall’s membrane absorption. This anomaly causes atony and stagnation in the ureter, thus leading to stone formation in the patient [1]. Ureteroceles and stone association is common in adults but rarely seen in children [2]. In this case report, we describe the discovery of multiple ureteral and uroterocele stones in a 3-year-old boy.

2 Case presentation

A 3-year-old boy was admitted with hematuria of 1-month duration. The patient had no previous history of urinary tract infection, hematuria, or abdominal pain. The physical examination was unremarkable, and all laboratory tests were normal, except for hematuria. A plain abdominal radiograph was normal. Urinary tract computed tomography (CT) revealed normal renal parenchyma and a normal pelvis. At the lower end of the left ureter, it showed a 4 mm × 24 mm opacity, as well as an 11 × 6 mm opacity extending into the bladder adjacent to the first opacity (Fig. 1). Transurethral lithotripsy was performed. During the cystoscopy procedure, no left ureteral orifice was observed. However, a balloon-like ureterocele containing numerous millimeter-sized stones was observed (Fig. 2). The ureterocele was excised by holmium/yttrium–aluminum–garnet (Ho–YAG) laser lithotripsy. The laser energy and frequency were 0.6–1.0 J and 5–10 Hz, respectively. During the excision of the ureterocele, a large number of millimeter-sized stones were observed in the ureter. On the CT, they had the appearance of a single stone. After the excision of the ureterocele with the Ho–YAG laser, the orifice of the left ureter was made more prominent. The stones were spontaneously laid down in the bladder, and a 3F double-J stent was placed in the collecting system. To reduce the operative time, stone extraction was not performed. Instead, the fragments, which were smaller than 1–2 mm, were left to pass spontaneously. The total operative time was 30 min. The double-J stent was removed 1 month later. There was no recurrence of the stones and no additional pathology at follow up.

Fig. 1
figure 1

One stone image in left ureter in CT

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Fig. 2
figure 2

Left ureterocele containing multiple stones during cystoscopy procedure

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3 Discussion

A ureterocele is a dilation of the submucosal ureter due to a delay in Chawall’s membrane absorption. This anomaly causes atony and stagnation in the ureter, thus predisposing the patient to stone formation [1]. Ureteroceles and stone association is common in adults but rarely seen in children [2]. In this case report, we describe the discovery of multiple ureteral and uroterocele stones in a 3-year-old boy. The presence of a single stone in a single ureterocele has been reported in adults, with an incidence of 4–39% [3]. However, similar occurrences are rare in children. A stone in a ureterocele usually grows asymptomatically and causes hematuria and obstruction [4]. Sometimes, the stone can result in spontaneous erosion of the ureterocele [1]. Ultrasound, an intravenous pyelogram, and CT can be used to confirm the diagnosis of an uretorecele containing multiple stones. However, a lack of experience on the part of the radiologist may allow an ureterocele with multiple stones to go undetected [3, 4]. Our patient was just 3 years old, making this is the third youngest case report of multiple ureteral and ureterocele stones in the literature. It is also the first time laser lithotripsy has been used for ureterocele excision. In the present study, the small size of the multiple stones in the ureterocele meant there was no need for laser lithotripsy to break the stones. Both lithotripsy and ureterocele excision can be done with a Ho–YAG laser. However, in the limited number of pediatric patients in the literature, open surgery is generally preferred (Table 1).

Table 1 Clinical presentation and treatment modality of the reported cases in literature
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4 Conclusion

A ureterocele and ureteral stones should be considered in patients who present with hematuria. In appropriate cases, minimally invasive techniques, for example, Ho–YAG laser lithotripsy and ureterocele excision may be preferred.