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- Title
Striking findings concerning the variability in the measurement of the fetal renal collecting system.
- Authors
Persutte, W.H.; Hussey, M.; Chyu, J.; Hobbins, J.C.
- Abstract
Objective Using strict thresholds of normality, investigators have reported associations between fetal pyelectasis and aneuploidy, obstructive uropathy, postnatal pyeloplasty and vesicoureteral reflux. Although evidence continues to mount regarding the importance of fetal pyelectasis, little is known of the variability of collecting system measurements. To investigate the short-term variability and its relationship to bladder dilatation, the following study was conducted. Design During May and June 1996, 20 mid- and late-trimester patients with varying degrees of fetal pyelectasis were recruited into this study. Each consented to undergo periodic (every 15 min for 2 h) ultrasound measurements of the fetal renal collecting systems and bladder. To account for anatomic and technical variability in measurement, we used both the sum of the transverse and anterior–posterior (AP) measurements of the collecting systems, and AP measurement alone for comparison. The variability of the collecting system measurements was assessed based upon gestational age, magnitude of pyelectasis and fetal bladder size. Results We investigated 38 renal units in 20 patients (eight in the second trimester and 12 in the third). The mean(SE) AP diameter of all kidneys was 5.89(2.49) mm (range 15 (2–17) mm), and the sum of transverse and AP renal collecting system diameters was 13.91(5.73) mm (range 26 (4–31) mm). These data were normally distributed. When assessing the variability in individual kidneys over time, we found the mean variation (minimum to maximum) for the sum of the AP and transverse measurement to be 7.61(4.26) mm and for the AP measurement alone to be 3.80(2.49) mm. No relationship was found between variability of dilatation, magnitude of dilatation or fetal bladder size. Cyclic dilatation of the fetal bladder was observed in all cases. The mean time from maximal to minimal dilatation was 20 min (1.34 observations; range 12–30 min). Conclusions We...
- Subjects
KIDNEY abnormalities; PRENATAL diagnosis; BLADDER abnormalities; DIAGNOSIS
- Publication
Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2000, Vol 15, Issue 3, p186
- ISSN
0960-7692
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1046/j.1469-0705.2000.00032.x