The results of radiological investigations performed on 81 children with urinary tract infection (UTI) were reviewed. Investigations included 91 voiding cystourethrograms (VCU), 59 intravenous urograms (IVU) and 36 ultrasonograms (US). The aim was to study the local spectrum of renal tract abnormalities in childhood UTI and to compare the diagnostic yield of combining US and VCU against IVU and VCU. Renal tract abnormalities were detected in 37%. Vesico-ureteric reflux (VUR) was the commonest, detected in 26%, with renal scarring found in 9% of refluxing units. Ultrasound should replace IVU in the initial diagnostic work-up of these children.
The organisation of the radiological services in Malaysia is described and those diseases in which radiology plays an important part in diagnosis are discussed. As radiology embraces all specialities a pattern of diseases emerges which is different from that seen in the West. The control of infectious diseases, the general improvement in health care and the more sophisticated radiological investigations now available mean that in future radiology will play a much more important part in diagnosis and management of patients.