[Comparison between pre- and postnatal echographic screening of malformative uropathies]

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Ultrasound
• Pediatric Urology
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Prenatal diagnosis of congenital anomalies is crucial for early intervention.
• Malformative uropathies (MU) are a significant group of congenital anomalies.
• Echography is a primary imaging modality for diagnosing fetal and neonatal conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the diagnostic accuracy of postnatal echographic screening versus prenatal echography for malformative uropathies (MU).
• To evaluate the effectiveness of fetal echography in detecting various types of MU.
• To determine the continued relevance of postnatal screening for MU.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 6578 infants underwent both fetal echography and postnatal screening for MU.
• Diagnostic agreement between prenatal and postnatal echography was analyzed.
• Specific detection rates for pyelectasis, hydronephrosis, and non-dilated MU were calculated.

Main Results:

• Fetal echography detected only 35.71% of pyelectasies and 73.17% of hydronephrosis.
• Detection rates for non-dilated malformative uropathies by fetal echography were notably low (18.75%).
• Postnatal screening identified a substantial number of MU cases missed by prenatal imaging.

Conclusions:

• Postnatal echographic screening for malformative uropathies retains clinical significance.
• The diagnostic limitations of fetal echography necessitate continued postnatal evaluation.
• Further validation of prenatal echography's efficacy is required before discontinuing postnatal screening for MU.