Antenatal ultrasonographic development of ureteroceles. Implications for management

Ureteroceles associated with a duplex collecting system may lead to obstructive uropathy, the most common genitourinary anomaly of the fetus. Although most frequently presenting as hydronephrosis, damage from obstruction is a progressive process which may even develop into bilateral renal dysfunction. Antenatal intervention for preservation of fetal renal function may be considered, but must be balanced against procedural risks. Therefore, accurate documentation of the progression may be necessary. In these cases, the development of the classic findings of two ureteroceles are documented over a period of several weeks using serial ultrasonographic evaluation. Postnatal evaluation of the infants confirmed the antenatal findings. The importance of serial ultrasonographic evaluation of fetal obstructive uropathies is dramatically illustrated.