title: Sonographic evaluation of kidney parenchymal growth in the fetus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to establish a nomogram for renal parenchymal thickness throughout pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  One-hundred and twenty-eight healthy women with singleton, well-dated, uncomplicated second- or third-trimester pregnancies were prospectively evaluated for renal parenchymal thickness on routine ultrasound scans. The renal parenchyma was measured in transverse and sagittal sections using predefined criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences in anterior or posterior parenchymal measurements in either plane by fetal sex. On sagittal-section analysis, no differences were noted between the right and left kidneys. A nomogram was established on the basis of the findings. The results showed constant linear growth of the fetal parenchyma during pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The normal fetal parenchyma grows at a constant, linear rate throughout pregnancy. The nomogram formulated may serve as a basis of future studies of the correlation of parenchymal thickness with postnatal kidney function in fetuses with urinary tract anomalies.
authors.affiliation: Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center, 49100 Petach Tikva, Israel. dolgaldor@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Eran
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hadar
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davidovits
authors.forename: Reuven
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mashiach
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vardimon
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bardin
authors.forename: Zeev
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Efrat
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Danon
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Israel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Meizner
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D008297:Male; D049451:Nomograms; D015588:Observer Variation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal