Prenatal ultrasound diagnosis features and prognosis analysis of congenital megalourethra
10.3760/cma.j.cn113903-20240519-00359
- VernacularTitle:先天性巨尿道症的产前超声特征及预后
- Author:
Xiaodong SHI
1
;
Xiaohua LI
;
Min LI
;
Zhonglu ZHANG
;
Bangdong LIU
Author Information
1. 济宁医学院附属医院超声科（山东省医药卫生济宁医学院附属医院重点学科），济宁 272029
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Prenatal diagnosis;
Ultrasonography;
Congenital megalourethra;
Spontaneous resolution;
Prognosis
- From:
Chinese Journal of Perinatal Medicine
2025;28(4):288-294
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore the prenatal ultrasound diagnostic features and prognosis of congenital megalourethra (CM).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data and prenatal ultrasound features of two fetuses with CM diagnosed and treated at the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College from July to December 2023. Literature related to the prenatal diagnosis of fetal CM was searched using the Chinese keywords "megalourethra" and "congenital megalourethra" in CNKI, Wanfang, Yiigle, and VIP Chinese Journal Database; and the same keywords in English were used for the retrieval in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases, with the search period from January 1, 1955, to December 31, 2023. Descriptive methods were used to analyze and summarize the prenatal ultrasound features, outcomes, and prognosis of all included cases.Results:(1) Cases from our hospital: Case 1, at 19 weeks of gestation, an ultrasound revealed the symptoms of penile urethral dilation and urinary tract obstruction, with the distal urethral opening visible. Case 2, at 17 weeks of gestation, an ultrasound showed the entire urethra of the fetus was dilated, particularly the penile urethra, with the urethral opening visible at the front end, and bilateral mild pyelectasis. Both cases were considered as fetal CM. The first case decided to terminate the pregnancy after examination at a higher-level hospital; the second case was re-examined two weeks later, showing linear separation of the penile urethra and significant relief in bilateral pyelectasis. Subsequent ultrasound examinations showed no significant changes, and a male infant was delivered by cesarean section at 37 weeks of gestation, with normal urination. (2) Literature review: A total of 54 fetal CM cases were retrieved, plus two cases from our hospital, making a total of 56 cases. Among the 56 cases, 49 cases (88%) were detected in the second trimester; penile urethral dilation was observed in all cases, with 54 cases (96%) being complicated by urinary system abnormalities, and 30 cases (54%) having other system abnormalities; 24 cases (43%) had oligohydramnios or no amniotic fluid. Eighteen cases (32%) resulted in the termination of pregnancy, one case (2%) involved intrauterine fetal death, and 37 cases (66%) resulted in live births, among which, six neonatal deaths occurred (all with oligohydramnios, three with renal dysplasia, two with increased renal parenchymal echogenicity, and one with impaired renal function). Among the 31 surviving cases, six experienced spontaneous resolution of fetal megalourethra in utero, with a favorable prognosis. Of the 20 cases with increased renal parenchymal echogenicity or renal dysplasia, nine (45%) resulted in termination of pregnancy, five (25%) in neonatal death, and among the six (30%) surviving infants, four underwent renal function tests, all showing renal impairment. Among the four cases detected in early pregnancy, two resulted in termination of pregnancy, one in neonatal death, and one infant developed end-stage renal disease.Conclusions:Fetal CM ultrasound images are characterized by dilatation of the penile urethra. Early detection, increased renal echogenicity or renal dysplasia, and oligohydramnios may be associated with adverse outcomes such as neonatal death or renal impairment.
