[Meconium periorchitis prenatal diagnosis: review of the literature, about 3 cases]

To assess the importance of prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of the fetus carrying meconium periorchitis and its predictive relevance for fetal monitoring and prognosis in the context of acute fetal intestinal disease.

Three male fetuses have been diagnosed of meconium periorchitis in our Unit of Fetal Medicine in the last 5 years. Their prenatal ultrasound diagnoses were: testicular tumor (n=1); Meconium periorchitis with acute fetal intestinal perforation (n=2). Gestational age at diagnosis was 33, 34 and 35 weeks. Ultrasound signs at diagnosis were: Increased size of scrotal zone, with hyperechogenic lesions inside and permanence of peritoneum-vaginal canal; at abdominal zone, echographic signs of intestinal disease with or without meconium peritonitis were found (hyperechogenic lesions, edema of intestinal loops and ascites). All three neonates were assessed postnatally by ultrasound and therapeutic indication.

Fetal ultrasound findings influenced both evolution and termination of pregnancy. The diagnosis of meconium periorchitis was confirmed postnatally in all cases: in the 1st case, delivered at term, scrotal tumoral pathology was ruled out and did not require abdominal surgery; the other 2 patients were delivered at the same week of prenatal diagnosis and an inguinal-scrotal surgery with intestinal approach because of meconium peritonitis was performed. No patient underwent orchiectomy, maintaining the teste-epididymal binomial intact.

Prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of meconium periorchitis requires a strict ultrasound follow-up of the fetus as it is a specific marker of intestinal perforation, which can lead to the termination of pregnancy and avoid appearance of complicated meconium peritonitis.