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EDITORIAL COMMENT

The authors report their experience with rigid and flexible ureteros-copy in prepubertal children. The indications for endoscopy includedthe treatment of urinary calculi, incision of urteropelvic junctionobstruction, extraction of a foreign body and use as a diagnosticmodality. The authors correctly conclude that rigid and flexible ure-teroscopy is an effective and safe modality in this age group. How-ever, the reader would have been better served if the authors had notincluded such a mixed population (flexible and rigid ureteroscopy,and antegrade and retrograde approaches), and had discussed theprecise indications for ureteroscopic modality and approach. Despitethese limitations, the observations of the authors provide additionalsupport for the growing use of ureteroscopy in children. Futurestudies are warranted to evaluate the use of rigid and flexible uret-eroscopy, and its specific indications and techniques.

Jeffrey S. PalmerDepartment of UrologyCase Western Reserve University School of MedicineCleveland, Ohio

URETEROSCOPY IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE FOR PREPUBERTAL CHILDREN 279