title: Management in children of mild postnatal renal dilatation but without vesicoureteral reflux.
abstract: Infants with mild postnatal renal dilatation but without vesicoureteral reflux pose a challenge. For how long and in what way should they be followed? From May 1989 to December 2006, we prospectively followed 1,795 pregnancies in which the foetal renal pelvis measured 4 mm or greater. Voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) and renal ultrasound were performed on 1,315 infants at 6 weeks of age. Our study group comprised 208 (167 male) infants with normal VCUG findings who had a renal pelvis of 6-11 mm. We followed them for 1-17 years (mean 11 years). Medical and radiological records were reviewed to determine any urinary symptoms and final outcome. They underwent, on average, four further imaging tests. The renal dilatation had resolved by 24 months in approximately 70%. Urinary tract infection (UTI) developed in 16 (8%). Calyceal dilatation was more likely in those developing UTI (P=0.02). Twenty-two (10.6%) had a radiologically demonstrated urinary tract abnormality. Of the five who had renal scarring or severe obstruction, four became symptomatic. Most infants with mild postnatal renal dilatation can be investigated with only one further sonogram at 24 months of age. Mild postnatal renal dilatation is associated with subsequent UTI or renal tract abnormality in 18%. Severe renal abnormality occurred in 2.4%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Academic Radiology, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch Hospital, Private Bag 4710, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand. nigel.anderson@otago.ac.nz
authors.forename: Nigel G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leighton
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hector-Taylor
authors.forename: Rachael L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: McEwing
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019783:Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014521:Urethra / Q000473:pathology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D014718:Vesico-Ureteral Reflux / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019783:Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid