title: Fetal megacystis: experience of a single tertiary center in Switzerland over 20 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Megacystis (MC) is rare and often associated with other structural and chromosomal anomalies. In euploid cases with early oligohydramnios, prognosis is poor mainly due to pulmonary hypoplasia and renal damage. We report our experience of the past 20 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of cases with prenatally diagnosed MC was performed. Complete prenatal as well as postnatal medical records from 1989 to 2009 were reviewed focusing on diagnostic precision, fetal interventions [vesicocentesis (VC), vesicoamniotic shunt (VAS)], short- and long-term outcome, and potential prognostic factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  68 cases were included. Follow-up was available in 54 cases (9 girls and 45 boys including 3 cases with aneuploidy). We found 39 isolated MC at sonography (5 girls and 34 boys). 24 fetuses with isolated MC underwent VC and VAS at 19.6 ± 6.3 and 20 ± 4.9 weeks of gestation, respectively. Survival rate was higher in male than in female fetuses (51 vs. 33%). Renal problems occurred in 4/14 prenatally treated fetuses and in 1/10 when cases with prune belly syndrome (PBS) were excluded from the analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows that a careful selection of cases with MC excluding fetuses with PBS and early treatment has still the potential to improve outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Bern, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Anne-Claude
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Müller Brochut
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thomann
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kluwe
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Naro
authors.forename: Anette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Raio
mesh_terms: D004386:Duodenum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014463:Ultrasonography; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging