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Ectopic Ureter Opening in Vagina in a Dual Collecting System: Report of a Case

Received: 19 August 2026     Accepted: 31 August 2026     Published: 20 September 2026
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Abstract

The ectopic ureter is a congenital anomaly characterized by an opening of the ureter outside the bladder trigone. Approximately 80% of cases are associated with a completely dual collecting system, most often involving the ureter draining the upper pole, in accordance with the Weigert-Meyer Law. The majority of cases are diagnosed during childhood, often during continuous urinary leakage or recurrent urinary infections. However, certain cases may remain unknown and be revealed in adulthood. Ultrasound, urography, uroscanner and uro-MRI are currently the examinations which allow the precise diagnosis of these uropathies. Surgical management of an ectopic ureter depends on the functional status of the kidney. Various surgical methods are available including the laparoscopic approach. We report a case of an ectopic ureter draining into the vagina, associated with ureteral duplication, discovered in a 16-year-old girl presenting with urinary incontinence. The investigations and treatment are discussed, as well as hypotheses regarding its embryogenesis, considering data from the literature. Ectopic ureter in a double urinary system is a rare but classic cause of permanent urinary incontinence in young girls, despite preserved voiding. Its diagnosis can be delayed, particularly in resource-limited settings, hence the importance of clinical suspicion in any case of atypical incontinence.

Published in International Journal of Clinical Urology (Volume 10, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijcu.20261002.13
Page(s) 126-130
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Ectopic Ureter, Urinary Incontinence, Reimplantation

References
[1] Skott M, Gnech M, Bujons A, Hoen LT, Burgu B, Rawashdeh YF, O'Kelly F. Summary of the European Association of Urology/European Society of paediatric urology guidelines on transition in urology. Journal of Pediatric Urology 2026, 22(1): 105632.
[2] Gangopadhyaya AN, Upadhayaya VD, Pandey A et al. Single system ectopic ureter in females: a single center study. Journal de l'Association indienne de pédiatrie. 2007; 12(4): 202-5.
[3] Ndiath A, Sine B, Anli SO, Ndour NS, Sarr A, Jalloh M, et al. Ectopic anastomosis of a single ureter into the vagina: a case report in an adult African Urology 2025, 5(3): 134-136.
[4] Demirtas T, Tombul ST, Golbasi A, Sonmez G, Demirtas A. The ectopic ureter opening into the vulva, which is a rare cause of lifelong urinary incontinence: Treatment with ureteroureterostomy Urol Case Rep. 2021; 36: 101597
[5] G Faure. urethral duplications. Urologie 1989; 72.: 18158A10.
[6] Punga-Maole AL, Mobile K, Kalonga JJK, Nkodila NA, et al. Urinary incontinence in a female adolescent due to an ectopic ureter opening into the vestibulum: a case report. Urol Case Rep 2020; 29: 101073.
[7] LI, Jianhong, HU, Tingze, WANG, Minghe, et al. Single ureteral ectopia with congenital renal dysplasia. The Journal of urolgy, 2003; 170(2): 558-9.
[8] Dhale A, Pendkar R, Hatwar G, Dharamshi JD, Trivedi Y. Ectopic Ureter Opening in Vagina: A Rare Cause of Nonfunctional Kidney and Urinary Incontinence in a Pediatric Patient. Cureus. 2024 May 10; 16(5): e60052
[9] Avni, Fred E., Nicaise, Nicole, Hall, Michelle, et al. The role of MR imaging for the assessment of complicated duplex kidneys in children: preliminary report. Pediatric radiology, 2001; 31(4): 215-223.
[10] Figueroa VH, Chavhan GB, Oudjhane K, Farhat W. Utility of MR urography in children suspected of having ectopic ureter. Pediatricradilogy, 44(8), 956-962.
[11] Ghosh B, Shridhar K, Pal DK, Banerjee M. Uretere ectopique se drainant dans l'uterus. Urol Ann. 2016; 8(1): 105-7.
[12] Ranjan KR, Parmar K, Tyagi S, Mandal S, Singh SK. J Laparoscopic Nephroureterectomy for Nonfunctioning Ectopic Pelvic Kidney with Ectopic Ureter and Lower Ureteral Stricture Opening in the Vestibule of the Vagina But No Incontinence: Challenges in Diagnosis and Surgical Dissection Endourol Case Rep. 2020 Dec 29; 6(4): 497-501.
[13] Kadohisa M, Shimatani K, Aoki H, Horiike M, Yamamoto S, Takada N, Kanematsu A. Reduced-Port Laparoscopic Nephroureterectomy for a Hypoplastic Pelvic Kidney With a Single Ectopic Ureter Opening Into the Vagina in Children: A Report of Two Pediatric Cases Asian J Endosc Surg. 2026 Jan-Dec; 19(1): e70269.
[14] Liu F, Liu F, Xu Y, Zhang C, Li Q, Guo L. Congenital ureterovaginal fistula: a rare case of single-system ectopic ureter opening into the vagina with ipsilateral ectopic kidney diagnosed via ultrasound Quant Imaging Med Surg. 2024 Aug 1; 14(8): 6161-6165.
[15] Luo H, Zhang W, Sun X, Bian W. Ectopic ureter opening into the vagina in an adult with duplex kidney: a case report and literature review Front Surg. 2026 Jun 23; 13: 1871517.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Aissatou, B. N., Ciza, Z. P., Amath, T., Omar, C., Diaw, T. I., et al. (2026). Ectopic Ureter Opening in Vagina in a Dual Collecting System: Report of a Case. International Journal of Clinical Urology, 10(2), 126-130. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcu.20261002.13

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    ACS Style

    Aissatou, B. N.; Ciza, Z. P.; Amath, T.; Omar, C.; Diaw, T. I., et al. Ectopic Ureter Opening in Vagina in a Dual Collecting System: Report of a Case. Int. J. Clin. Urol. 2026, 10(2), 126-130. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcu.20261002.13

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    AMA Style

    Aissatou BN, Ciza ZP, Amath T, Omar C, Diaw TI, et al. Ectopic Ureter Opening in Vagina in a Dual Collecting System: Report of a Case. Int J Clin Urol. 2026;10(2):126-130. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcu.20261002.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijcu.20261002.13,
      author = {Bagayogo Ndeye Aissatou and Zihalirwa Patrick Ciza and Thiam Amath and Cissokho Omar and Thiam Ibrahima Diaw and Lakibi Raphaelle and Sene Aissatou and Sine Babacar and Diao Babacar},
      title = {Ectopic Ureter Opening in Vagina in a Dual Collecting System: Report of a Case},
      journal = {International Journal of Clinical Urology},
      volume = {10},
      number = {2},
      pages = {126-130},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijcu.20261002.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcu.20261002.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijcu.20261002.13},
      abstract = {The ectopic ureter is a congenital anomaly characterized by an opening of the ureter outside the bladder trigone. Approximately 80% of cases are associated with a completely dual collecting system, most often involving the ureter draining the upper pole, in accordance with the Weigert-Meyer Law. The majority of cases are diagnosed during childhood, often during continuous urinary leakage or recurrent urinary infections. However, certain cases may remain unknown and be revealed in adulthood. Ultrasound, urography, uroscanner and uro-MRI are currently the examinations which allow the precise diagnosis of these uropathies. Surgical management of an ectopic ureter depends on the functional status of the kidney. Various surgical methods are available including the laparoscopic approach. We report a case of an ectopic ureter draining into the vagina, associated with ureteral duplication, discovered in a 16-year-old girl presenting with urinary incontinence. The investigations and treatment are discussed, as well as hypotheses regarding its embryogenesis, considering data from the literature. Ectopic ureter in a double urinary system is a rare but classic cause of permanent urinary incontinence in young girls, despite preserved voiding. Its diagnosis can be delayed, particularly in resource-limited settings, hence the importance of clinical suspicion in any case of atypical incontinence.},
     year = {2026}
    }
    

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    AU  - Bagayogo Ndeye Aissatou
    AU  - Zihalirwa Patrick Ciza
    AU  - Thiam Amath
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijcu.20261002.13
    T2  - International Journal of Clinical Urology
    JF  - International Journal of Clinical Urology
    JO  - International Journal of Clinical Urology
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    EP  - 130
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2640-1355
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    AB  - The ectopic ureter is a congenital anomaly characterized by an opening of the ureter outside the bladder trigone. Approximately 80% of cases are associated with a completely dual collecting system, most often involving the ureter draining the upper pole, in accordance with the Weigert-Meyer Law. The majority of cases are diagnosed during childhood, often during continuous urinary leakage or recurrent urinary infections. However, certain cases may remain unknown and be revealed in adulthood. Ultrasound, urography, uroscanner and uro-MRI are currently the examinations which allow the precise diagnosis of these uropathies. Surgical management of an ectopic ureter depends on the functional status of the kidney. Various surgical methods are available including the laparoscopic approach. We report a case of an ectopic ureter draining into the vagina, associated with ureteral duplication, discovered in a 16-year-old girl presenting with urinary incontinence. The investigations and treatment are discussed, as well as hypotheses regarding its embryogenesis, considering data from the literature. Ectopic ureter in a double urinary system is a rare but classic cause of permanent urinary incontinence in young girls, despite preserved voiding. Its diagnosis can be delayed, particularly in resource-limited settings, hence the importance of clinical suspicion in any case of atypical incontinence.
    VL  - 10
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Author Information
  • Urology Andrology Department, Military Ouakam Hospital, Dakar, Senegal

  • Urology Andrology Department, Military Ouakam Hospital, Dakar, Senegal

  • Urology Andrology Department, Military Ouakam Hospital, Dakar, Senegal

  • Urology Andrology Department, Military Ouakam Hospital, Dakar, Senegal

  • Urology Andrology Department, Military Ouakam Hospital, Dakar, Senegal

  • Urology Andrology Department, Military Ouakam Hospital, Dakar, Senegal

  • Urology Andrology Department, Military Ouakam Hospital, Dakar, Senegal

  • Urology Andrology Department, Health Center of Ngor, Dakar, Senegal

  • Urology Andrology Department, Military Ouakam Hospital, Dakar, Senegal

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