First‐trimester diagnosis of low obstructive uropathy: An indicator of initial renal function in the fetus

Megacystis at 10–14 weeks of gestation: chromosomal defects and outcome according to bladder length

“…Megacystis > 15 mm is associated with severe obstructive uropathy and renal dysplasia. These findings are compatible with those of several case reports in which pathological examination after TOP for progressive megacystis showed urethral atresia, hypertrophic bladder, dysplastic kidneys and atrophied abdominal muscles5, 12–14. Although animal studies have demonstrated that the renal damage in obstructive uropathy can be reduced by intrauterine surgery, the data from vesico‐amniotic shunting in human fetuses have not provided conclusive evidence that such interventions are beneficial15–18.…”

First and early second‐trimester diagnosis of fetal urinary tract anomalies using transvaginal sonography

“…Examination of the fetal urinary tract is an integral part of routine :sonographic examination in the second trimester of pregnancy. Malformations of the urinary tract are being detected at an ever-increasing rate, mostly because the:y are associated with two easily visualized sonographic markers: the cystic accumulation of fluid and a change of the amniotic fluid volume (Bulic et al, 1987). Th'e kidneys can be imaged at the 12th gestational week by abdominal ultrasound as hypoechogenic oval masses on both sides of the fetal spine (Grannum et af., 1980). However, detailed evaluation of the fetal urinary tract and identification of anomalies are difficult before the 18th week from the last menstrual period (LMP) (Hadlock et al, 1981).…”