Open Access

CASE REPORT

Double blind-ending ureter: diagnostic challenges and robotic-assisted surgical management—case report

Marco Di Mitri^1,2,*, Edoardo Collautti^1,2, Cristian Bisanti³, Andrea Zulli¹, Alberto Mantovani¹, Annalisa Di Carmine³, Michelangelo Baldazzi⁴, Roberto Lo Piccolo¹, Riccardo Coletta^1,5, Lorenzo Masieri⁶, Mario Lima³

1 AOU Pediatric Surgery Department, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Florence, 50139, Italy
2 Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40126, Italy
3 Pediatric Surgery Department, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero, Universitaria Di Bologna, Bologna, 40138, Italy
4 Pediatric and Adult CardioThoracic and Vascular, Oncohematologic and Emergency Radiology, Unit IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero, Universitaria Di Bologna, Bologna, 40138, Italy
5 Department of NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Florence, 50134, Italy
6 Department of Urology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, 50134, Italy

* Corresponding Authors: Marco Di Mitri. Email: ,

Canadian Journal of Urology 2026, 33(1), 185-192. https://doi.org/10.32604/cju.2025.067303

Received 29 April 2025; Accepted 18 September 2025; Issue published 28 February 2026

Abstract

Background: Double blind-ending ureter (DBU) is an extremely rare congenital anomaly involving a duplicated ureter with no connection to the renal pelvis or bladder, making diagnosis difficult. Case Description: A 10-year-old girl presented with recurrent abdominal pain and ultrasound evidence of left hydroureteronephrosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction revealed a 30 cm blind-ending ureter. Robotic-assisted excision (Da Vinci Xi) was performed safely, preserving adjacent structures. Histology confirmed a nonfunctional ureteral remnant. Conclusions: DBU is a rare duplication variant. Advanced imaging and robotic surgery are essential for accurate diagnosis and effective, minimally invasive treatment.

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Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material File

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