Adolescent Presentation of Posterior Urethral Valves

Posterior urethral valves (PUVs) present clinically across a varied spectrum, ranging from severe obstruction with massive distension of the bladder and upper urinary tracts in the fetus, to a much more indolent course with minor secondary changes in the young or older child. Type III (diaphragm) PUVs are relatively uncommon, and are associated with difficulty in passing a transurethral catheter into the bladder as well as smooth dilation of the bladder. The following case examines the unusual experiences of both diagnosing PUVs in a teenager, and capturing visual evidence of type III valves during cystourethroscopy.