Abstract

TOMBESI, Marcela  and  ALCONCHER, Laura. Should renal and vesical ultrasound be performed in patients with preauricular tags?. Rev. argent. radiol. [online]. 2008, vol.72, n.2, pp.165-168. ISSN 1852-9992.

Introduction: The renal and vesical ultrasound in every patient with preauricular tags is a common practice. However, the benefit of this indication is controversial. Objective: To determine whether the prevalence of urinary tract abnormalities in patients with isolated preauricular tags is higher than in those without preauricular tags. Population, material and methods: From June 1996 to June 2006, 92 patients with preauricular tags had been referred consecutively for renal and vesical ultrasound. Healthy infants with isolated preauricular tags were included. Patients who had a preauricular tag associated with other ear anomalies and/ or major anomalies or malformative syndromes were excluded. Eighty eight infants achieved the inclusion criteria. A historical control group of 300 healthy infants, with a prevalence of urinary tract abnormalities of 1%, was considered for a statistical comparison. An exact hypothesis test for one proportion was performed, with the software Epidat 3.1, setting a signification level of 5%. Results: Three out of 88 infants (3.4%) with isolated preauricular tags had renal abnormalities: ectopic kidney with hidroureteronephrosis detected by prenatal ultrasound, solitary kidney with a positive family history of renal malformations and a simple cortical renal cyst. No significant statistical difference was found in comparison with the historical control group (p: 0.11). Conclusion: The prevalence of renal malformations was similar in the groups with and without preauricular tags. Renal and vesical ultrasounds seem not to be mandatory in infants with isolated preauricular tags.

Keywords : Preauricular tags; Renal abnormalities; Ultrasound.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )