Skip to main content

Conditions We Treat

Urology Department

The pediatric urology team at Phoenix Children’s treats all urological conditions, including complex conditions related to the genital and urinary organs, also called the genitourinary tract.

Conditions That Can Affect Both Boys and Girls

  • Complex congenital conditions of the genitourinary tract. These include:
    • Bladder exstrophy: Occurs when the bladder forms outside the body
    • Cloacal anomalies: A group of conditions that affect a child’s lower abdominal and genital structures
  • Inguinal hernias: An inguinal hernia occurs when part of the intestine pushes through a weak spot in the lower wall of the belly. The hernia creates a lump in the groin. 
  • Hydronephrosis: This condition causes swelling of a kidney due to a buildup of urine. It can lead to blockages in the kidney (kidney obstruction).
  • Kidney reflux: Also called vesicoureteral reflux, this condition causes urine in the bladder to flow in the wrong direction.
  • Kidney stones: A kidney stone is a solid piece of material made from chemicals that form in the kidney. 
  • Neurogenic bladder: This condition occurs when nerve damage prevents the bladder from working properly. 
  • Urinary incontinence: Loss of bladder control. Also called enuresis, this loss of control can happen day or night. 
  • Urinary tract infections (UTIs): A UTI occurs when bacteria in the urinary tract cause inflammation. 

Conditions Specific to Boys 

  • Circumcision and circumcision complications: Circumcision is a surgery to remove the skin that covers the end of the penis. 
  • Epispadias: A penile condition that prevents urine from exiting the body from the usual location.
  • Hypospadias: A condition that occurs when the opening of the urethra is not at the tip of the penis. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to exit the body. 
  • Hydroceles: A hydrocele happens when fluid builds up in the thin pouch that holds the testes in the scrotum. 
  • Penis abnormalities that are present at birth. These include: 
    • Buried/hidden penis: When the penis is hidden by extra skin
    • Chordee: When the penis curves downward
    • Penile torsion: When the penis appears rotated or twisted
  • Undescended testes: When one or both of the male testes have not passed down (descended) into the scrotal sac.

Conditions Specific to Girls

Our urologists work with pediatric gynecologists to treat girls with certain disorders of sexual development related to internal or external female genitalia. They provide referrals to pediatric gynecologists for concerns such as ovarian cysts and problems with menstruation.
 

Share this page