title: Posterior urethral obstruction. Prenatal sonographic findings and clinical outcome in fourteen cases.
abstract: Fourteen cases of fetal urethral obstruction were reviewed retrospectively. The purpose of this study was to emphasize the following: 1) prenatal sonographic findings: 2) clinical outcome: and 3) associated congenital anomalies. Decreased amniotic fluid volume complicated 12 pregnancies (86%). A dilated posterior urethra was identified in nine fetuses (64%) and an enlarged bladder in 13 (93%). Evaluation of the fetal kidneys revealed hydronephrosis in 81%, increased parenchymal echogenicity in 73% and macroscopic renal cysts in 15%. There were seven live births, but only two neonates survived beyond 5 weeks. Pulmonary hypoplasia contributed to the five postnatal deaths. Associated congenital anomalies were noted at autopsy in six cases.
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006869:Hydronephrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000196:embryology; D007668:Kidney / Q000002:abnormalities; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014524:Urethral Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000196:embryology*