Objective: To evaluate the place and value of cystoscopy in paediatric bladder dysfunction.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of files of 100 children who underwent cystoscopy.
Results: In 6 patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction, cystoscopy was done for the diagnosis of secondary uropathy. In patients with uropathy, of the neonatal group of 6 patients 2 were seen for evaluation of disorders of sexual differentiation and 4 were seen for further diagnosis of neonatal hydronephrosis. In 21 children cystoscopy was part of the diagnostic and/or therapeutic workup for severe urinary-tract infection and in 5 patients for other uropathies. Sixty-two patients with non-neurogenic, non-uropathic bladder dysfunction were selected to undergo cystoscopy on the urodynamic findings. In boys, 36 had an obstruction and 12 had normal cystoscopy. In girls, 4 had an obstruction and 10 had a minimal meatal deformity.
Conclusions: In children with neurogenic dysfunction, cystoscopy is only indicated in diagnosis and therapy of secondary uropathies. Cystoscopy is part of the diagnostic and therapeutic strategy in uropathy. In non-neurogenic, non-uropathic dysfunction urodynamic study allows the selection of patients who have minimal anatomic deformities that provoke the bladder dysfunction and for whom cystoscopy is indicated.