Detection of obstructive uropathy in the fetus : predictive value of sonographic measurements of renal pelvic diameter at various gestational ages

The goal of our study was to analyze the fetal renal pelvic diameters measured sonographically at several gestational intervals in live-born neonates subsequently found to have either obstructive uropathy or normal kidneys. This information will improve the efficacy of sonography in the diagnosis of obstructive uropathy.From an ongoing prospective study assessing the significance of fetal renal pelvic diameters of 4 mm or more at obstetric sonography, the findings in 29 obstructed kidneys in 24 babies were compared with the findings in 380 kidneys from 233 infants who had no obstruction. Twenty-three infants had unilateral obstruction of the ureteropelvic junction, two had unilateral renal obstruction at the ureterovesical junction, one had posterior urethral valves and in addition had both kidneys obstructed because of obstruction at the ureterovesical junction, one kidney was obstructed because of megaloureter, and one kidney was obstructed because of obstruction in a duplex collecting system. Obstructi...