Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 7, Issue 7 371-375, Copyright © 1988 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Posterior urethral obstruction. Prenatal sonographic findings and clinical outcome in fourteen cases
S. A. Hayden, P. D. Russ, D. H. Pretorius, M. L. Manco-Johnson and W. H. Clewell
Department of Radiology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262.
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.
