[Diagnostic and therapeutic protocol in malformative uropathies prenatally diagnosed]

The increased frequency of prenatal detection of urinary tract abnormalities has brought to the attention of the pediatrician a high number of neonates and infants with asymptomatic hydronephrosis, which represents the most common form of uropathy. As it becomes clear that hydronephrosis does not necessarily mean obstruction, the purpose of the evaluation is to identify those infants in whom hydronephrosis will cause progressive renal deterioration, because of an ongoing restriction to urinary outflow. In the present paper, the discussion of the post-natal diagnosis and management focuses on the embryologic background, the pathophysiology of the obstruction and the rationale to utilise the different diagnostic techniques (ultrasonography, associated with the use of the Doppler; intravenous urography; avoiding cystourethrography; renal scintigraphy).