Late second trimester assessment of pyelectasis (SERP) to predict pediatric urological outcome is improved by checking additional features.
OBJECTIVE
Counseling for pyelectasis in the late 2nd trimester is usually based only upon assessing the antero-posterior (AP) width of the renal pelvis. We hypothesized that checking additional features would better predict postnatal outcome.


METHODS
Ultrasound (<24 weeks gestational age (GA)) and newborn outcome data collected prospectively since 1986 were analyzed retrospectively. We determined if outcome predictions in kidneys with a sonographically evident renal pelvis (SERP), which had evaluation of additional features (e.g., renal and bladder lengths, presence of a dilated ureter or dilated calyces) are more accurate than those that did not have these features.


RESULTS
There were 286 fetuses studied with pediatric follow-up of an average of 6.5 years. There were 338 exams providing 459 ultrasound images with SERP. Additional features were not assessed in 183 fetuses; however 103 fetuses did have evaluation of additional features. These features were categorized as abnormal (92) or as normal (11). Fetuses with SERP and abnormal additional features required extensive urological care or died 6.1 times more often than fetuses in which additional features were not examined (p < 0.001) and 12.9 times more often when additional features were normal (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Fetal kidneys with SERP (<24 weeks GA) and an abnormal additional ultrasound feature had extensive pediatric care significantly more often than when such features were not evaluated or were normal.
Maizels
Max
M
Division of Urology and Institute for Fetal Health, Children's Memorial Hospital, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60614, USA. mmaizels@northwestern.edu
Wang
Eileen
E
Sabbagha
Rudy E
RE
Dinsmoor
Mara
M
Seshadri
Roopa
R
Ginsberg
Norman
N
Gauthier
Daniel
D
Abramowicz
Jacques
J
D000328:Adult; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006869:Hydronephrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007668:Kidney / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology; D007682:Kidney Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy