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Updated: Mar 12, 2026
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Author Spotlight: Developing a Bedside Protocol for Kidney and Genitourinary Ultrasonography
Published on: June 21, 2024
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Maternal Physiologic Renal Pelvis Dilatation in Pregnancy: Sonographic Reference Data
Sahan Udayanga Wadasinghe1, Louisa Metcalf2, Patricia Metcalf3
1Department of Radiology, North Shore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand sahan.wadasinghe@waitem-atadhb.govt.nz.
Summary
This study provides sonographic reference data for maternal renal pelvis dilatation in asymptomatic pregnant women. Renal pelvis measurements increase with gestational age, with larger diameters more common in twin pregnancies.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Renal Physiology
Background:
- Physiological changes during pregnancy can affect maternal anatomy.
- Renal pelvis dilatation is a common finding, but reference data in asymptomatic pregnant women is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normative sonographic reference data for maternal renal pelvis diameter in asymptomatic pregnant women.
- To analyze the relationship between gestational age and renal pelvis dilatation.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cross-sectional study of 509 pregnant women undergoing obstetric imaging.
- Sonographic measurement of renal pelvis anteroposterior diameter for each kidney.
- Data collection included maternal demographics and pregnancy characteristics.
Main Results:
- Normative charts for renal pelvis diameter versus gestational age were created for singleton pregnancies.
- Measurements >10 mm were uncommon (<10%), increasing with gestational age.
- Right renal pelvis measurements were larger than left; twins showed larger measurements than singletons.
Conclusions:
- Sonographic reference data for asymptomatic pregnancy-related renal pelvis dilatation in singleton pregnancies are presented.
- This data can aid in the interpretation of renal pelvis measurements during pregnancy.
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