Unilateral bifid ureter and its clinical significance - A case report

Context: Congenital anomaly is commonly found in the urinary system in which collecting system is frequently encountered. Among other type bifid ureter is one of the common variations. Objective: To describe and analyze the clinical and the embryological significance of the unilateral bifid ureter. Design: The presence of unilateral bifid ureter was seen as an incidental finding during dissection of the anatomy of an adult male cadaver. The cause of such variation is a fusion of ureteric bud during intrauterine development. Outcome: The knowledge of such relationship is important for a surgeon during renal surgeries. This is one of the rare case reported with no other renal and collecting system congenital anomalies found with left sided bifid ureter. Conclusion: Surgeons and Nephrologists must keep the unilateral bifid ureter in their mind while making differential diagnosis of ureteric calculus. Surgery is nearly always required in the bifid ureter to cure the problem when associated with complication such as reimplantation surgery in vesicoureteric reflux, uretropyelostomy in saddle reflux bifid ureter. The unilateral bifid ureter may be similar to the collecting system obstruction in the form of ureteric stone and utmost care should be taken by Surgeons during renal and ureteric calculi surgeries.