Diagnosis and treatment of CAKUT (congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract) using ultrasonography

Abstract

Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) are the most common causes of advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) in children. CAKUT should be diagnosed as early as possible to prevent the renal damage caused by urinary tract obstruction, vesicoureteral reflux and/or febrile urinary tract infection. Ultrasonography is the most useful and minimally invasive tool for diagnosing CAKUT and also essential for assessing treatment efficacy and evaluating outcomes in children with CAKUT. We also discuss the clinical guidelines on ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJo) and vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) published simultaneously by the Japanese Society of Pediatric Urology in 2016.