Three-dimensional sonographic measurement of fetal renal volume.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the growth of the fetal kidney in normal pregnancies using three-dimensional ultrasound.


METHODS
Three-dimensional sonographic examinations were performed on 13 appropriate-for-gestational-age fetuses. Fetal renal volume was measured every 2 to 3 weeks after 20 weeks gestational age until delivery.


RESULTS
There was a good linear correlation between left and right renal volumes (r = 0.9614, P < 0.0001). Curvilinear relationships were found between gestational age and left and right renal volume (left: R(2) = 79.1%, P < 0.0001; right: R(2) = 74.2%, P < 0.0001), and normal ranges of left and right renal volume measurements for estimating the growth of the fetal kidney during normal pregnancy were generated. There was a difference for each predicted value of the fetal renal volume in the third trimester of pregnancy in our study and in two other previous studies. The left and right fetal renal volume to estimated fetal weight ratios were constant during the pregnancies studied.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that fetal renal volume measurement plays a role in assessment of the growth of fetal kidneys. However, we are doubtful about the reproducibility of fetal renal volume measurements made by using three-dimensional ultrasound in utero. Further studies involving larger sample sizes are needed to reevaluate the usefulness and reproducibility of fetal renal volume measurements.
Department of Perinatology and Gynecology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki, Kagawa, 761-0793, Japan.
Atsushi
A
Kuno
Department of Perinatology and Gynecology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki, Kagawa, 761-0793, Japan.
Eisuke
E
Inubashiri
Department of Perinatology and Gynecology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki, Kagawa, 761-0793, Japan.
Kenji
K
Kanenishi
Department of Perinatology and Gynecology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki, Kagawa, 761-0793, Japan. toshi28@kms.ac.jp.
Toshiyuki
T
Hata
appropriate-for-gestational-age fetus; normal pregnancy; renal volume; three-dimensional ultrasound