Magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis of severe fetal renal anomalies.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to describe magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in fetuses with severe renal anomalies.


METHODS
This was a case-control study that compared MRI findings in fetuses with suspected severe renal anomalies with gestational age-matched control fetuses. MRI was performed with T2-weighted single-shot fast-spin echo sequences. Each MRI was reviewed by an investigator who was blinded to clinical information.


RESULTS
There were 2 cases of bilateral renal agenesis, 2 cases if bilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney disease, 2 cases if unilateral renal agenesis and contralateral multicystic dysplastic kidney disease, 2 cases if polycystic kidney disease, and 2 cases of early membrane rupture/normal kidneys. Fetuses with lethal renal anomalies had a characteristic bladder appearance (signal void [dark]), whereas control fetuses had bright signal in both bladder and renal pelvis (P < .001). Both cases of early membrane rupture/normal kidneys had bright bladder signal, but 1 case did not have bright signal in the renal pelvis.


CONCLUSIONS
Fetuses with lethal renal anomalies had signal void in the bladder region on MRI.
Hawkins
J Seth
JS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9032, USA. josiah.hawkins@parknet.pmh.org
Dashe
Jodi S
JS
Twickler
Diane M
DM
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000196:embryology* / Q000473:pathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index