title: Congenital megalourethra: outcome after prenatal diagnosis in a series of 4 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this series is to describe the prenatal sonographic findings and pregnancy outcome in 4 cases of congenital megalourethra.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three cases of fusiform-type megalourethra and 1 case of scaphoid-type megalourethtra were diagnosed prenatally by sonography between 20 and 24 weeks' gestation. The key findings for diagnosis included sonographic features of lower urinary tract obstruction in association with dilatation and elongation of the penile urethra in all 4 cases. Severe oligohydramnios was detected at the time of diagnosis in only 1 case. Prenatal chromosome analysis was available in 3 cases and revealed a normal 46,XY karyotype. Information on pregnancy outcome was available in all cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The parents opted for elective termination of pregnancy in 1 case when decreased amniotic fluid volume and echogenic kidneys were documented at the follow-up scan. Among the 3 ongoing pregnancies, there were 2 premature cesarean deliveries at 28 and 31 weeks and 1 vaginal delivery at term. All neonates had severe lung hypoplasia and died in the early neonatal period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Congenital megalourethra is associated with poor perinatal outcome. Because this condition can be diagnosed prenatally in the context of lower urinary tract obstruction, detailed examination of the external genitalia in these cases should be mandatory.
authors.affiliation: Fetal Medicine Center, Clinica Las Condes, Casilla 208, Santiago 20, Chile. fetalmed@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Waldo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sepulveda
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Elorza
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.forename: Patricio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vasquez
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Castro
mesh_terms: D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014521:Urethra / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*