The significance of early second-trimester sonographic detection of minor fetal renal anomalies.
A study of 6350 consecutive transvaginal ultrasound examinations was performed as part of a routine fetal evaluation. Twenty-one cases (0.33 per cent) of early second-trimester sonographic detection of minor renal abnormalities (unilateral renal agenesis, pelvic kidney, and double collecting system) are presented. The sonographic diagnosis was made at 14-18 weeks of pregnancy and confirmed, in all of the 21 fetuses, postnatally or by post-mortem. A high incidence of associated fetal anomalies (24 per cent) and parental renal abnormalities (14 per cent) was demonstrated. Transvaginal sonography was found to be a useful tool for diagnosing these renal anomalies as early as 14 weeks of pregnancy. The likelihood of various associated anomalies and long-term implications on renal function raise questions concerning the prenatal management of such patients.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
M
M
Bronshtein
I
I
Bar-Hava
A
A
Lightman
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007668:Kidney / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000592:standards*