Natural history of fetal hydronephrosis diagnosed on mid‐trimester ultrasound
Abstract
Objectives: Renal tract dilatation is a common finding in routine prenatal ultrasound. However, there is no consensus as to the criteria used for differentiating pathological from physiological dilatation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the natural history and postnatal outcome of fetal hydronephrosis in an unselected obstetric population. Design: This was a prospective study of fetal hydronephrosis, detected at 18–23 weeks' gestation, in a routine obstetric population. Fetal hydronephrosis was diagnosed as ‘mild’ if the antero‐posterior renal pelvic diameter (APRPD) measured ≥ 4 mm and as ‘moderate/severe’ if the APRPD measured ≥ 7 mm or if there was associated calyceal dilatation. The postnatal outcome of fetuses with persistent hydronephrosis (≥ 10 mm in the third trimester) was determined from a postal questionnaire. Results: During the study period, 11 465 women underwent an anomaly scan at 18–23 weeks of gestation. Fetal hydronephrosis was identified in 2.3% (268/11 465) of women. Mild hydronephrosis was present in 80.6% (216/268) and moderate/severe hydronephrosis in 19.4% (52/268). The hydronephrosis resolved in the antenatal or early neonatal period in 88% of fetuses. None of the fetuses with mild hydronephrosis and approximately one in three fetuses with persistent moderate/severe hydronephrosis required postnatal surgery. Overall, only one in every 1000 total births in the study population required postnatal urological surgery. Conclusions: The current study highlights the natural history of antenatally detected hydronephrosis. Mild fetal hydronephrosis appears to be associated with an excellent prognosis and probably represents the group with physiological renal pelvic dilatation. Moderate/severe fetal hydronephrosis is associated with poorer outcome and is perhaps the group that will need more intense follow up both antenatally and postnatally. Copyright © 2001 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
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A renal pelvis ≥ 7mm indicates a need for reassessment in the third trimester.
“A renal pelvis ≥ 7mm indicates a need for reassessment in the third trimester 80,81 .”
From <scp>ISUOG</scp> Practice Guidelines (updated): performance of the routine mid‐trimester fetal ultrasound scan (2022) · cites this paper as [80]
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- Authors
- Sairam, S., Al‐Habib, A., Sasson, S., & Thilaganathan, B.
- Affiliations
- St Bartholomew's Hospital (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Thilaganathan, B.
- ORCID
- Thilaganathan, B.
- Venue
- Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2001-03
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 191-196
- ISSN
- 0960-7692 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-0705
- OpenAlex
- W2033306356
- Cited by
- 237
- References
- 16
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 6.33
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Pediatric Urology and Nephrology Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Congenital Anomalies and Fetal Surgery
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Fetal and Pediatric Neurological Disorders
- Keywords
- fetal hydronephrosis, natural history (disease), prenatal ultrasound, renal pelvic dilatation, calyceal dilatation, postnatal outcome, prognosis
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Female, Fetal Diseases, Humans, Hydronephrosis, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Outcome, Pregnancy Trimester, Second, Prognosis, Prospective Studies, Ultrasonography, Prenatal
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