Outcome of fetal pyelectasis diagnosed antenatally.
Renal pelvis dilatation is a common anomaly detected at the 20-week anomaly scan. The aim of this study was to evaluate the postnatal outcome of fetal pyelectasis in an unselected obstetric population. This was a retrospective study of fetal pyelectasis detected at midtrimester anomaly scan. Fetal pyelectasis was classified as mild if the anteroposterior renal pelvis diameter measured >5 mm-< or= 7 mm, moderate >7-< or = 10 mm and severe as >10 mm. Persistant fetal pyelectasis was defined as >7 mm in the third trimester.


RESULTS
During the study period fetal pyelectasis was identified in 74 women. 6 were excluded, as case records were not available. Mild pyelectasis was identified in 38/67(56.7%), moderate pyelectasis in 20/67(29.8%) and severe pyelectasis in 9/67(13.4%). None of the infants in the mild pyelectasis subgroup required surgery. 3/29(10%) in the moderate and severe pyelectasis subgroup required postnatal surgery. Of the 38 with mild fetal pyelectasis 13.1% had a positive postnatal diagnosis out of which 7.9% had vesico-ureteric reflux, 2.6% renal dysplasia and 2.6% pelvi-ureteric junction (PUJ) stenoses.


CONCLUSIONS
74% of pregnancies in the mild pyelectasis subgroup demonstrated spontaneous resolution. However persistent mild pyelectasis may lead to postnatal morbidity and should be followed up.
Ahmad
G
G
Arrowe Park Hospital, Arrowe Park Road, Upton, Wirral CH49 5PE, UK.
Green
P
P
D000328:Adult; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008499:Medical Records; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal