Pediatric urology involves management of genital and urinary problems that occur in children, with a special emphasis on developmental problems affecting the kidneys, bladder, urethra or genital tract. Common conditions include hypospadias (urine passage ending short of the end of the penis), hydronephrosis (obstruction of urine flow from the kidneys), cryptorchidism (undescended testes), reflux (backup of urine from the bladder toward the kidneys) and intersex (incomplete or otherwise abnormal development of the genital organs.) Mayo Clinic is a leading provider of comprehensive care for these and all pediatric urology and genitourinary problems. In addition, Mayo Clinic is one of the few institutions specializing in a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of more complex urologic disorders including exstrophy, intersex, Wilms tumor, and bladder rehabilitation secondary to neurogenic lesions, such as myelomeningocele.
Mayo Clinic pediatric urology researchers conduct clinical and basic science research regarding the genetic and molecular congenital anomalies of the genitourinary tract of children. The following are summaries of recent and current areas of research in pediatric urology.
- Doxazosin as primary therapy in children with voiding dysfunction.
- Penile and primary bladder reconstruction for the surgical repair of classical bladder exstrophy.
- The relationship between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the resolution of urinary incontinence and nighttime enuresis.
- The study of urinary tract infections and vesicoureteral reflux, both of which can result from voiding dysfunction. Mayo researchers coined the term ‘transient urodynamic dysfunction of infancy’ to describe when these abnormalities occur together, which predisposes infants to urinary tract infections and vesicoureteral reflux.
- The use of chemotherapy combined with surgery in children with genitourinary malignancy, such that surgery and chemotherapy can be tailored to the specific needs of the patient using recently developed combination chemotherapeutic regimens.