Urogenital anomalies in human male fetuses.
BACKGROUND
There are few studies in the literature performed in human fetuses evaluating the incidence of genitourinary anomalies.


OBJECTIVE
Analyze the incidence of congenital urogenital malformations in human male fetuses. STUDY DESIGNS AND SUBJECTS: We analyzed 166 human male fetuses well preserved. The gestational age was determined in weeks post conception (WPC) according to the foot length criterion and ranged from 10 to 35 WPC. The fetuses were dissected with the aid of a stereoscopic lens with 2.5x magnification. We performed abdominal and pelvic incisions to expose the urogenital organs. We studied the incidence of renal, ureteral, vesicle, urethral, testicular, epididymal, vas deferens, prostate and penile anomalies.


RESULTS
Of the 166 fetuses, 7 (4.2%) presented some kind of anomaly of the urogenital system. Renal anomalies were found in two fetuses (1.2%). Unilateral renal agenesis was found in a 25 WPC fetus. Horseshoe kidney was found in a 20 WPC fetus. In a 23 WPC fetus (0.6%) the two testes were absent. Epididymal disjunction anomalies were found in four fetuses (2.4%).


CONCLUSIONS
The urogenital anomalies in human male fetuses are rare and have an incidence around 4%.
Urogenital Research Unit,--State University of Rio de Janeiro, Av. 28 de Setembro, 87, Fundos, FCM, terreo, 20551-030, Brazil.
Luciano A
LA
Favorito
Themis M
TM
Cardinot
Ana Raquel M
AR
Morais
Francisco J B
FJ
Sampaio
D004822:Epididymis / Q000002:abnormalities; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000002:abnormalities; D008297:Male; D010413:Penis / Q000002:abnormalities; D011467:Prostate / Q000002:abnormalities; D013737:Testis / Q000002:abnormalities; D014513:Ureter / Q000002:abnormalities; D014521:Urethra / Q000002:abnormalities; D014564:Urogenital Abnormalities / Q000196:embryology* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000002:abnormalities