Renal malformations in patients with Turner syndrome: imaging in 141 patients

Turner syndrome occurs in 1/2,000 to 1/5,000 live female births. The presence of renal malformations was evaluated in 141 patients with Turner syndrome and abnormalities were found in 47 (33%). Prior to 1980, IVP was the radiologic method used for initial screening, and subsequently, ultrasonography has been used as the initial imaging technique. With both methods, major malformations can be detected. Ten patients had a horseshoe kidney, 11 had double collecting systems, four had complete absence of one kidney, three had crossed ectopia, and one had a pelvic kidney. Three patients had ureteropelvic junction obstruction; two of these were asymptomatic and the obstructions were detected only because of the routine imaging. Two patients had ureterovesicular junction obstruction, with one studied as part of a routine evaluation for short stature. Four of these five patients required surgery. Ultrasonography should be used as the initial renal imaging study for all patients at the time the diagnosis of Turner syndrome is made.