Overview of Congenital Genitourinary Anomalies

By Ronald Rabinowitz, MD, Professor of Urology and Pediatrics;Chief of Pediatric Urology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry;Strong Memorial and Rochester General Hospitals ; Jimena Cubillos, MD, Assistant Professor of Urology and Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

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Congenital Renal and Genitourinary Anomalies
Overview of Congenital Genitourinary Anomalies
Bladder Anomalies
Cryptorchidism
Penile and Urethral Anomalies
Prune-Belly Syndrome
Renal Anomalies
Testicular and Scrotal Anomalies
Ureteral Anomalies
Vaginal Anomalies
Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR)

Congenital anatomic anomalies of the GU tract are more common than those of any other organ system.

Urinary tract anomalies predispose patients to many complications, including urinary tract infection, obstruction, stasis, calculus formation, and impaired renal function.

Genital anomalies may cause voiding or sexual dysfunction, impaired fertility, psychosocial difficulties, or a combination.

GU anomalies frequently require surgical reconstruction.

Many GU anomalies are diagnosed in utero via routine prenatal ultrasonography. Some congenital renal anomalies (eg, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, medullary sponge kidney, hereditary nephritis) typically do not manifest until adulthood.

Last full review/revision November 2016 by Ronald Rabinowitz, MD; Jimena Cubillos, MD