ABU Pediatric Urology study guide
ABU Pediatric Urology · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
Subspecialty certification in pediatric urology is a credential for urologists who have completed their core urology training and now devote their practice to children. It signals to hospitals, credentialing committees, and referring physicians that the holder has demonstrated focused knowledge across the full breadth of the field, from prenatal hydronephrosis through adolescent andrology. The ABU Pediatric Urology study guide has 10 sections and about 2,503 words.
01Pediatric Urologic Oncology
Know Wilms tumor (nephroblastoma) cold: peak age 3-4 years, often a painless abdominal mass, associated with WT1/WT2 alterations, Beckwith-Wiedemann, WAGR, and Denys-Drash syndromes. Staging drives therapy: NWTS/COG favors upfront nephrectomy for resectable unilateral disease, whereas SIOP uses preoperative chemotherapy.
316 words, about 2 min02Congenital and Acquired Genitourinary Anomalies
Master the embryology of the ureteric bud and metanephric blastema to explain duplication, ectopic ureter, ureterocele, and multicystic dysplastic kidney. Understand antenatal hydronephrosis grading (SFU/UTD), vesicoureteral reflux grading (I-V), and when to observe versus intervene.
268 words, about 1 min03Pediatric Voiding Dysfunction and Neurogenic Bladder
Understand normal bladder development and the spectrum of lower urinary tract dysfunction: overactive bladder, dysfunctional voiding, underactive bladder, and the non-neurogenic neurogenic bladder (Hinman syndrome). Know the clinical clues: daytime incontinence, urgency, frequency, infrequent voiding, and stool retention.
273 words, about 1 min04Pediatric Stone Disease and Endourology
Know the metabolic and anatomic causes of pediatric stones: hypercalciuria, hyperoxaluria, cystinuria, hypocitraturia, and anatomic obstruction. Stones in children are more often metabolic than in adults, so metabolic evaluation is important.
262 words, about 1 min05Pediatric Trauma and Reconstructive Urology
Understand the evaluation of pediatric renal trauma: mechanism, hemodynamic stability, and CT with contrast; most blunt renal injuries are managed nonoperatively. Recognize the grading of renal injury and indications for intervention.
244 words, about 1 min06Pediatric Urologic Infections and Inflammatory Conditions
Know the diagnosis and management of febrile urinary tract infection in children, including the role of urine culture, empiric antibiotics, and imaging. Vesicoureteral reflux grading and the debate over antibiotic prophylaxis are high-yield.
235 words, about 1 min07Pediatric Renal Physiology, Transplantation, and Hypertension
Understand developmental renal physiology: glomerular filtration rate is low at birth and matures over the first years, affecting drug dosing and fluid management. Know the principles of pediatric kidney transplantation: indications, timing, donor selection, and immunosuppression.
246 words, about 1 min08Disorders of Sex Development and Pediatric Andrology
Understand the classification of disorders of sex development (DSD): 46,XX DSD (congenital adrenal hyperplasia most common), 46,XY DSD (androgen insensitivity, gonadal dysgenesis), and sex chromosome DSD (Turner, Klinefelter). Know the initial evaluation of ambiguous genitalia: history, examination, karyotype, hormone testing, and imaging.
213 words, about 1 min09Prenatal Diagnosis and Fetal Urology
Understand the antenatal evaluation of hydronephrosis: timing, severity, and the use of the UTD classification. Recognize the causes of antenatal hydronephrosis: UPJ obstruction, UVJ obstruction, vesicoureteral reflux, posterior urethral valves, and duplicated systems.
231 words, about 1 min10Pediatric Urologic Imaging and Diagnostic Testing
Know the indications and limitations of pediatric urologic imaging: ultrasound, voiding cystourethrogram, renal scintigraphy (DMSA, MAG3), CT, and MRI. Understand radiation exposure concerns and the ALARA principle.
215 words, about 1 min