title: Complementary role of magnetic resonance imaging after ultrasound examination in assessing fetal renal agenesis: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ultrasonography is used routinely during pregnancy to screen and detect fetal abnormalities. However, there are some conditions like anhydramnios (a prevalent state in renal agenesis) or maternal obesity that may limit the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography. Magnetic resonance imaging has proven to be useful when ultrasound alone is insufficient to make a correct diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present the case of a 22-year-old Caucasian woman who was admitted to our unit at the 26th week of gestation for a detailed anatomy scan. Anhydramnios and failure to visualize the kidneys, bladder and renal vessels were confirmed with the use of sonography in our department. Since the lack of amniotic fluid limited the acoustic window for fetal ultrasonography, a magnetic resonance imaging scan was requested to confirm suspected renal agenesis. A fetal magnetic resonance imaging scan was performed and confirmed the suspected diagnosis. A baby boy was born by breech vaginal delivery after spontaneous onset of labor at the 34th week of gestation. The boy weighed 1690g, with Apgar scores of 6 and 4 at two and five minutes respectively, and died one hour after delivery. The diagnosis of bilateral renal agenesis was confirmed on autopsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential contribution of magnetic resonance imaging in diagnostic procedure after inconclusive ultrasound examination during the assessment of fetal urinary tract abnormalities in the third trimester.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Pathology of Pregnancy, Medical University of Lublin, 16 Staszica Street, 20-081 Lublin, Poland. tomgeca@wp.pl.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gęca
authors.forename: Arkadiusz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krzyżanowski
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stupak
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kwaśniewska
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pikuła
authors.forename: Radosław
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pietura