Ektopic ureter - a not considered cause of persisting enuresis in girls

Background: Ectopic ureter - especially in a duplicated collecting renal sy stem - is a specific cause of incontinence in young girls. Although the sym ptom of continuous dribbling of urine is characteristic for this malformati on, diagnosis is often delayed, as the possibility of ectopic ureters is no t considered in treating girls with delayed toilet training. Case report: We present the case of a young girl with a variety of unnecess ary invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures due to a misunderstood " enuresis", before incontinence was cured by upper pole heminephrectomy. Conclusions: Girls, who never have been dry and who loose urine all the tim e do have an ectopic ureter, unless evidence to the contrary has been put f orward. Only considering the possibility of ectopic ureters will avoid unne cessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in these girls.