Prenatal ultrasonography: implications for pediatric urology

Prenatal ultrasonography has become a critical and integral component of the obstetric care of women worldwide. As a result, a number of congenital anomalies are now routinely being detected prior to birth. Anomalies affecting the genitourinary system are among those most commonly detected, and thus pediatric urologists are increasingly being asked to provide parental counseling in such situations. However, much of the data needed to enhance these discussions and provide informed consent are absent from the literature. In this review, we hope to address the published literature describing the rapidly expanding role of ultrasound in prenatal care. More importantly, however, we hope to provide some insight into the manner in which prenatal ultrasound and subsequent urologic anomaly diagnosis has affected the practice of pediatric urology.