Association Between Ureteral Jet Angle by Color Doppler Ultrasonography and the Clinical Outcomes of Vesicoureteral Reflux

PURPOSE: Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is one of the common abnormalities in pediatric urology. We previously demonstrated that the ureteral jet angle (UJA) is a useful noninvasive screening tool for detecting high-grade VUR. To further explore its clinical application, we evaluated the association of UJA with UTI development and VUR improvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed the reliability of the UJA measurement in 19 healthy adult volunteers in a prospective interrater reliability study. A retrospective study was conducted in 209 pediatric patients who presented with febrile UTI and underwent both voiding cystourethrography and UJA measurement. RESULTS: < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Measuring the UJA using color Doppler ultrasonography appears to be associated not only with VUR grade but also with UTI development and VUR improvement, supporting its role in VUR management.