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

Abstract

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: 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.