Background

Duplication of the bladder is a relatively rare congenital malformation [1]. There are about 100 cases of duplication of bladder reported worldwide, which are usually associated with genital and distal gastrointestinal duplication, mainly seen in men [2,3,4]. Duplication of the bladder can be divided into complete duplication and incomplete duplication. The incomplete duplication of the bladder refers to two half-bladders that are not completely separated and are drawn through the same urethra. The complete duplication of the bladder is the presence of two independent bladders, with normal mucosa and muscle layer, separated by a peritoneal fold, each bladder discharged through a separate urethra [5]. There are two types of complete bladder duplication, sagittal and coronal, depending on the axis of the septum [6]. Sagittal septum duplication of the bladder is the most common type [2]. Effmann [7] divided duplication of the urethra into three classifications: Effmann type I: incomplete and blind-end urethral duplication; Effmann type II: complete urethral duplication of one or two openings; Effmann type III: complete or incomplete urethral duplication with bladder duplication or other duplication. Duplication of the bladder is usually diagnosed in infants but is occasionally found in adults [8]. In this case report, we describe a rare case of sagittal septum duplication of the bladder with duplication of the posterior urethra (Effmann type III), combined with congenital megacolon. The patient can grow up without bladder and urethral reconstruction surgery. To the best of our knowledge, there are only 3 cases of sagittal septum duplication of the bladder with duplication of the posterior urethra were reported. Furthermore, a combination thereof with congenital megacolon is even more rare.

We summarize the imaging findings of duplication of the bladder with duplication of the posterior urethra, which is helpful to improve the attention of clinicians and radiologists to this disease, and further make accurate diagnosis and reasonable treatment plan. We present the following article in accordance with the CARE reporting checklist.

Case presentation

A 21-year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of frequent urination lasting 2 months. When the patient developed symptoms of frequent urination, he presented to another hospital first and underwent some routine tests at admission. Urinalysis revealed 81 white blood cells/ul, normal biochemical indicators of renal function. No sperm was seen on semen analysis; thus, a further testicular biopsy was performed. This revealed a few seminiferous tubules in the testicular tissue, and spermatogenic cells were seen in the lumen, but mature sperm cells were not visible. Because the patient’s urinalysis suggested the presence of a urinary tract infection, anti-inflammatory therapy was administered. When his symptoms subsequently resolved, he asked to be discharged from the hospital.

Nevertheless, frequent urination recurred, and for further diagnosis and treatment, the patient visited the outpatient department of our hospital on June 6, 2022. On physical examination, the patient was found to have an old surgical incision scar, approximately 12 cm in length, on the left side of the abdomen, with no abnormalities of the anus. Routine urinalysis of the patient: 8 white blood cells/ul. In addition, the patient’s mother reported that he had suffered from long-term constipation with abdominal distension before the age of 5 years. At the time, he was admitted to the local hospital and was diagnosed with congenital megacolon based on the relevant examinations. After communication between the attending doctor and the patient’s family, the patient was advised to undergo immediate surgical treatment. The patient underwent resection of the above malformation. The patient’s family members have no similar clinical manifestations and malformations. Given the long interval, we were unable to obtain relevant clinical evidence and specific treatment procedures used for the patient.

At our hospital, an ultrasound examination showed a hyperechoic strip within the dark area of the bladder, which was connected to the posterior wall, and two urethral lines could be seen in the prostate (Fig. 1). Bladder separation or a double bladder was considered. Simultaneously, a plain computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a separation of about 7 mm in the bladder. A delayed enhancement scan displayed that two cavities were filled by the contrast agents in the pelvic cavity, the right half was slightly smaller and the left half was slightly larger (Fig. 2A and B). Maximum intensity projection (MIP) showed that the left and right bladders were connected to the two kidneys through a single ureter on each side (Fig. 2C and D). Volume rendering (VR) presented the entire collection system, showing a single ureter on each side connecting to the left and right bladder cavities, but the urethra was not shown (Fig. 2E and F). The patient also underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): the T1- and T2-weighted images showed a sagittal septum between the left bladder and right bladder, with a thickness and signal similar to those of a normal bladder wall (Fig. 3A and C). Magnetic resonance urography (MRU) revealed two bladders that were separately connected to two urethras (Fig. 3D and F).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Urinary ultrasound: the left and right bladders (BL) were not connected, which were separated by a septum (white arrow)

Full size image
Fig. 2
figure 2

Urinary CT: cross-sectional images: a separation of seven millimeters (white and black arrow) in the bladder (A-B), there are two contrasts filled chambers in the pelvic cavity. MIP coronal view: the left and right kidneys were connected to each side of an independent ureter, and the two bladder cavities were side by side (C-E). VR: the entire urinary system can be seen. The left and right kidneys and a single ureter connect the left and right bladders (F)

Full size image
Fig. 3
figure 3

MRI: T1WI, T2WI cross-section and coronal plane: two chambers in the pelvic arranged left and right, the two chambers were separated by a sagittal septum, and septum shape and signal were similar to the bladder wall (A-C). MRU: two bladders were connected to the bilateral posterior urethra respectively (D-E). 3D: two half-bladders and two posterior urethras (F)

Full size image

Cystoscopy was performed to clarify the anatomical structure of the malformation (Fig. 4). Two urethras were seen from the membrane part of the urethra. Each urethra entered the left and right incoherent bladders. The diagnosis of sagittal septum duplication of the bladder combined with a duplication of the posterior urethra was confirmed by cystoscopy. Cystoscopy also displayed that a verumontanum was present in the right urethra, but not in the left urethra. Based on combined cystoscopy, CT, and MRI examination, we speculated that the patient’s two bladders could normally discharge urine to the left and right urethras. Our cystoscopy results together with the previous testicular biopsy findings suggested that the patient may have azoospermia (verumontanum obstruction).

Fig. 4
figure 4

Cystoscopy: the left and right urethras were seen in the membranes part of the urethra (A), the left posterior urethra was irregular in shape, the mucosa was not smooth, and there was no verumontanum structure (B), the right posterior urethra’s verumontanum structure was visible (C)

Full size image

After the patient was diagnosed with duplication of bladder and urethra, the doctor recommended surgical treatment to the patient. However, he considered that he only had frequent urination symptoms, and chose conservative treatment rather than to undergo surgical treatment. Thus, the doctor prescribed anti-inflammatory treatment. Four months later, the patient reported that frequent urination symptoms persisted, and was also considering fertility-related problems. The outpatient follow-up will be continued.

Discussion

Literature review

To perform the review of the literature, relevant articles in English were extensively searched for the PubMed, Web of Science, Ovid data-base. The period of research was between January 1, 1982, and October 1, 2022. The keywords used for the search were “duplication of bladder”, “double bladder”, “double urethra”, “duplication of urethra”. These words were used individually “OR” with the Boolean operator “AND”. A total of three articles involving three cases were included in the analysis. The flow chart of the literature screening process is set out in Fig. 5. For each case, the data were collected for the first author, year of publication, patient’s age/sex, bladder duplication type, bladder duplication direction, Effmann’s classification, other associated anomalies, and treatment (Table 1).

Fig. 5
figure 5

The flow chart of the literature screening process for sagittal bladder duplications and duplication of posterior urethra

Full size image
Table 1 Reported cases of sagittal bladder duplication and posterior urethra duplication
Full size table

We have reviewed the literature on three previously reported cases of sagittal septum duplication of the bladder combined with duplication of the posterior urethra. All cases were underage males, two newborns, and one 12-year-old. The newborns were identified due to anal atresia. The adolescent was identified due to dysuria, which was consistent with the reported case. Two cases were diagnosed by intravenous urography (IVU), and one case was diagnosed by micturating cystourethrogram. The two urethras were connected to the left and right bladder respectively, and merged into one urethra at the bulb part of the urethra, in the shape of “Y”.

At present, the embryological basis of bladder duplication remains unclear, and the use of a single theory cannot fully explain all types of bladder duplication [9]. According to Abrahamson’s classification, the embryological origin of bladder duplication may be associated with excessive narrowing between the urogenital system and the ventral vesicoureteral cloaca or additional cloacal septa being pressed into the bladder epithelium, causing it to divide [4]. The division of the embryo’s cloaca is a key step in the formation of the digestive and genitourinary systems [10], and relevant abnormalities in the genitourinary systems could be induced by defects in this process. Therefore, we speculate that the congenital megacolon may be related to the duplication of the bladder and urethra. In addition, the embryonic development of urethral duplication is unclear, because different types of malformations may have different stimulating factors, which may be related to the termination of the cloacal membrane, the development of genital nodules, and some dislocation of the urogenital sinus [11].

Duplication of the bladder and urethra requires multiple imaging techniques to observe the structure and function of the urinary system and to determine the degree and type of duplication [12]. Ultrasound can detect various types of bladder duplication malformations in the early stage and is a suitable screening and follow-up method. In addition, ultrasound usually shows related upper urinary tract abnormalities [13]. For sagittal bladder duplication combined with a posterior urethral duplication, intravenous urography (IVU) usually displays two bladders in parallel, separated by a septum containing the muscular layer, or manifests as two complete, independent bladders. The ipsilateral ureter enters the ipsilateral bladder, and the urethra is “Y-” shaped. The length of urethral duplication also can be determined by IVU [11]. Although IVU is helpful for diagnosis, it is invasive and requires radioactivity. The major advantages of MRU are that it is non-invasive and does not involve radioactivity, and can clearly reveal the anatomical structure of the upper urinary tract and exclude the malformation of the upper urinary tract. The drawback of MRU is that it cannot clearly display the anatomical structure of the lower urinary tract. Additionally, the reconstructive images of CT or MRI can provide a diagnosis and classification, with valuable information, as it can determine the malformation size, location, and relationship with adjacent anatomical structures [14]. CT can reveal the septum containing the muscular layer in the bladder. CT and MRI can demonstrate duplication of the bladder and urethra as well as digestive abnormalities [11]. MRI also has high resolution for soft tissue; thus, it can easily detect bladder duplication, its shape, location, surrounding tissue, and some associated abnormalities. In short, CT or MRI can provide additional three-dimensional information of anatomic structures and their relations and can serve as a useful adjunct in complex clinical scenarios [15]. We are able to understand the anatomical structure of the patient’s malformation through the cystoscopy. Based on this patient, cystoscopy, CT, and MRI can clearly and accurately diagnose bladder and urethral duplication.

Duplication of the bladder needs to be differentiated from bladder diverticula, mesenteric cysts, etc. Bladder diverticula can be secondary or congenital [16]. The complete duplication of the bladder can only be congenitally formed. The clinical manifestations of a bladder diverticulum include hematuria, urinary tract infection, urinary retention, malignant tumor, and rarely, rupture and pain [16]. The clinical symptoms of duplication of the bladder are generally similar to those of a bladder diverticulum. No malignant tumors were found in the previous papers on duplication of the bladder. Sheldon and Essig [17] reviewed the relevant literature: there appeared to be no bladder diverticulum with urethral malformation, genital or distal gastrointestinal system duplication. CT reveals that the wall of the bladder diverticulum is thickened and irregular, while thin-walled structures of different sizes connected to the bladder cavity could be seen on both sides and anterior or posterior walls of the bladder. The bladder diverticulum may potentially develop to a neoplasm, and most of surgeons advocate immediate prophylactic resection of the diverticulum [18].

A mesenteric cyst (MC) is defined as a cyst with an epithelial lining that is located in the mesentery [19]. Most of these cysts are congenital and benign lesions. The causes of MC involve ectopic lymphatic tissue development, abdominal trauma, lymphatic inflammatory obstruction, or localized lymph node degeneration. Its clinical symptoms include abdominal mass, abdominal distension, intermittent abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and severe cases that can be accompanied by fever [20]. Duplication of the bladder can show the same clinical symptoms as MC. MC is showed a low-density shadow inside the abdominal cavity on CT scan, which is closely related to the intestinal tract, but when an MC occurs in the pelvic cavity, the boundary between the MC and bladder may be unclear. Due to the similarity of imaging findings and clinical manifestations between an MC and duplication of the bladder, we should distinguish them. Bladder diverticula, duplication of the bladder, and MC can be diagnosed and differentiated by ultrasound, CT, and MRI.

Conclusions

In conclusion, for those patients diagnosed with a bladder with urethral duplication, we should carefully detect whether other malformations are present. CT and MRI can reveal the morphology and function of the urinary system as a whole, and can clearly show the separation of the bladder and the two semi-bladder cavities. It is also helpful to observe whether any abnormalities in the reproductive and digestive systems exist. Taken together, for patients with a bladder with urethral duplication, making a definite diagnosis through imaging examination as soon as possible, it is of great significance to guide clinical treatment.