Prenatal diagnosis and neonatal management of congenital urethral diverticulum.
OBJECTIVE
We present a series of male neonates with prenatally detected anterior urethral diverticula and discuss postnatal management.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed 3 cases of prenatally detected anterior urethral diverticula presenting between 1998 and 2005.


RESULTS
An anterior urethral cystic mass was identified prenatally in all 3 patients. One mass spontaneously ruptured prenatally. The patient underwent diverticulectomy and urethroplasty at age 6 months. Two patients had obstructive uropathy with oligohydramnios and were delivered at 32 weeks of gestation. Both cases were managed by urethrostomy and subsequent diverticulectomy and urethroplasty at age 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Infravesical obstruction from a urethral diverticulum can be accurately identified and differentiated from other causes prenatally. Marsupialization is an excellent option for temporary urinary diversion when the clinical situation precludes primary excision and repair.
Coplen
Douglas E
DE
Division of Pediatric Urology, St. Louis Children's Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Austin
Paul F
PF
D004240:Diverticulum / Q000151:congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014522:Urethral Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*