Posterior urethral obstruction. Prenatal sonographic findings and clinical outcome in fourteen cases

: Fourteen cases of fetal urethral obstruction were reviewed retrospectively. The purpose of this study was to emphasize the following: 1) prenatal sonographic findings: 2) clinical outcome: and 3) associated congenital anomalies. Decreased amniotic fluid volume complicated 12 pregnancies (86%). A dilated posterior urethra was identified in nine fetuses (64%) and an enlarged bladder in 13 (93%). Evaluation of the fetal kidneys revealed hydronephrosis in 81%, increased parenchymal echogenicity in 73% and macroscopic renal cysts in 15%. There were seven live births, but only two neonates survived beyond 5 weeks. Pulmonary hypoplasia contributed to the five postnatal deaths. Associated congenital anomalies were noted at autopsy in six cases.