Sonographic measurement of detrusor muscle thickness in healthy children

The aim was to measure detrusor thickness in healthy children, using high frequency ultrasonography, to determine normal values that could be used for the evaluation of pathological bladder conditions. Ultrasound (US) was performed in 62 children (38 boys, 24 girls, 20 months - 18 years, mean 8.4+/-4.5 years) with the absence of clinical or laboratory pathological changes of the urinary tract. The detrusor thickness was measured at the posterior, anterior and lateral bladder walls, and the average thickness was calculated for each bladder wall in every child. The mean detrusor thickness was 1.17+/-0.45 mm (range 0.4-2.8 mm) for the anterior bladder wall, 1.25+/-0.45 mm (range 0.5-3.0 mm) for the posterior bladder wall, 1.18+/-0.44 mm (range 0.4-2.9 mm) for the left lateral wall, and 1.19+/-0.45 mm (range 0.4-2.8 mm) for the right lateral wall. There was a significant correlation of mean detrusor thickness with age. Using high-frequency US transducers it was possible to measure the detrusor thickness of the anterior and posterior bladder walls in all children. The mean normal detrusor thickness is 1.2+/-0.45 mm (range 0.4-3 mm) when the bladder is full. Future studies should evaluate this method in children with functional, neuropathic and anatomical dysfunctions of the lower urinary system.