Urinary Bladder: Imaging the Regeneration of a Dynamic Organ

Bladder disorders are not well recognized, but a range of conditions can damage or compromise bladder function, necessitating eventual organ replacement or repair. In children, the most common congenital abnormalities involve the genitourinary system, including bladder exstrophy, urinary tract defects (1 in 500 children) that damage the bladder and kidneys (e.g. obstructive uropathy), and neurogenic bladders due to myelomeningocele (1 in 800 children). These disorders can result in a high-pressure, low-compliant bladder that requires substitution.