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Kidney morphology in pregnancy using T2-weighted MRI
F Conti-Ramsden1, R Hill1, M Rutherford2
1Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
Clinical Radiology
|May 15, 2022
Summary
Maternal kidney size and volume during pregnancy fall within typical non-pregnant ranges, as shown by fetal MRI. However, renal pelvis diameter measurements are larger than previously reported with ultrasound.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Obstetrics
- Nephrology
Background:
- Maternal kidney morphology changes during pregnancy.
- Fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) incidentally captures maternal kidneys.
- Understanding these changes is crucial for accurate interpretation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize maternal kidney morphology using fetal MRI.
- To establish reference ranges for kidney length, volume, and renal pelvis diameter.
- To assess corticomedullary differentiation in pregnant women.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of fetal MRI scans from 42 women.
- Exclusion of women with chronic kidney disease or multiple gestations.
- Independent duplicate measurements of kidney dimensions and corticomedullary differentiation.
Main Results:
- Mean kidney lengths were 10.9 cm (left) and 10.4 cm (right), varying with height.
- Mean maximal renal pelvis diameters were 9 mm (left) and 12 mm (right).
- Renal volume was within non-pregnant ranges, influenced by height and gestational age.
Conclusions:
- Maternal kidney length and volume are comparable to non-pregnant norms.
- MRI reveals larger renal pelvis diameters than previously reported by ultrasound.
- Findings have implications for standardized reporting of maternal kidney measurements.
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