The ureter and ureterocele, in fact, are not separated. The ureteric lumen is widened all the way into the bladder, but it is somewhat tortuous so that the ultrasound image, seeing only one plane, seems to show them separated. Learn more about ultrasound. This is the ureterocele seen on the ultrasound. Notice that there is no reflux.
Some ureteroceles do reflux, allowing urine to move retrograde from the bladder up the ureter.
Learn more about vesicoureteric reflux. This surgical photo was taken from the patient's chest looking caudad into the base of the opened bladder. See another case history of ureterocele. Return to Normal Development of the Ureter. Return to Abnormal Development of the Ureter.