Prenatal detection of internal urinary system's anomalies. A registry-based study

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Prenatal Diagnosis
• Urology

Background:

• Prenatal diagnosis via ultrasound is standard in antenatal care.
• Assessing the detection rate of fetal anomalies is crucial for evaluating diagnostic effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the sensitivity of prenatal ultrasound in detecting Internal Urinary System (IUS) anomalies.
• To analyze detection rates for isolated versus multiple fetal malformations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a registry of congenital malformations.
• Analyzed cases of Internal Urinary System (IUS) anomalies diagnosed prenatally via ultrasound.
• Calculated detection sensitivity for isolated and multiple malformations.

Main Results:

• The mean detection time for IUS anomalies was 29 weeks gestation (range 12-39 weeks).
• Overall prenatal detection sensitivity for IUS anomalies was 56.0%.
• Sensitivity was 59.3% for isolated anomalies and 46.0% for multiple malformations.

Conclusions:

• Prenatal ultrasound has a moderate sensitivity for detecting fetal Internal Urinary System (IUS) anomalies.
• Detection rates are lower when IUS anomalies are part of a broader spectrum of fetal malformations.
• Findings highlight areas for potential improvement in prenatal screening for urogenital tract abnormalities.