Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41153545›Full record

ReviewChildren (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Application of Ultrasound in Primary Vesicoureteral Reflux: From Diagnosis to Follow Up.

Marco Pensabene, Benedetto Spataro, Fabio Baldanza, Francesco Grasso, Gregorio Serra, Veronica Notarbartolo, Mario Giuffrè, Giovanni Corsello, Elisa Zambaiti, Maria Rita Di Pace and 1 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Children (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Marco PensabenePediatric Surgery Unit, Department for Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care and Medical Specialties "D'Alessandro" PROMISE, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-3187-1901
Benedetto SpataroPediatric Surgery Unit, Department for Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care and Medical Specialties "D'Alessandro" PROMISE, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy.
Fabio BaldanzaPediatric Surgery Unit, Department for Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care and Medical Specialties "D'Alessandro" PROMISE, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy.
Francesco GrassoPediatric Surgery Unit, Department for Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care and Medical Specialties "D'Alessandro" PROMISE, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy.ORCID 0009-0004-4520-7766
Gregorio SerraNeonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department for Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care and Medical Specialties "D'Alessandro" PROMISE, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy.
Veronica NotarbartoloNeonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department for Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care and Medical Specialties "D'Alessandro" PROMISE, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy.
Mario GiuffrèNeonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department for Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care and Medical Specialties "D'Alessandro" PROMISE, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-9576-1635
Giovanni CorselloNeonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department for Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care and Medical Specialties "D'Alessandro" PROMISE, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy.
Elisa ZambaitiUOC Pediatric Surgery, Ospedale Infantile "Regina Margherita", 10126 Torino, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-9610-1708
Maria Rita Di PacePediatric Surgery Unit, Department for Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care and Medical Specialties "D'Alessandro" PROMISE, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-2170-8035
Maria SergioPediatric Surgery Unit, Department for Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care and Medical Specialties "D'Alessandro" PROMISE, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesPrimary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is a common pediatric urological disorder that can lead to significant renal morbidity if undetected or improperly managed. Ultrasound (US) plays a pivotal role in its assessment, providing a radiation-free tool to prenatal assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term follow-up. This study aims to systematically review the literature on the use of US in pediatric primary VUR, emphasizing its applications in prenatal and postnatal diagnosis, intraoperative guidance, and follow-up monitoring.

methodsA systematic review of the literature was performed on PubMed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The research strategy used the following keywords: Ultrasound Vesicoureteral reflux, VUR Ultrasound, and VUR Sonography. A total of 2222 records were initially identified. After screening titles and abstracts for relevance, 2165 studies were excluded because they did not focus on ultrasound procedures, did not specify age limits, were redundant, involved non-homogeneous populations, or were unavailable in full text.

resultsPrenatal US enables early identification of urinary tract anomalies suggestive of VUR, facilitating targeted postnatal evaluation. Postnatally, contrast-enhanced voiding ultrasound (CEVUS) offers a non-ionizing method for VUR confirmation or exclusion. Intraoperatively, US improves the accuracy and efficacy of bulking agent placement, potentially enhancing surgical outcomes. In follow-up, US remains essential for both conservatively managed and surgically treated patients, enabling timely detection of complications or recurrence.

conclusionsUltrasound represents a useful tool in the management of pediatric primary VUR, applicable across all clinical stages, avoiding radiation exposure, and improving surgical effectiveness and follow-up management.

Indexed as

childrencontrast-enhanced ultrasoundultrasoundvesicoureteral reflux

Identifiers

PMID41153545
PMCPMC12562841

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.