Prenatal Diagnosis Of A Patent Urachus Cyst With The Use Of 2D, 3D, 4D Ultrasound And Fetal Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Urology / Nephrology;  MRI / PET / Ultrasound;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 19 Jan 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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UroToday.com - In a recent journal article, Dr. Fuchs et al. described a case where they followed a 27-year-old woman referred to their prenatal diagnosis center at 18 weeks of gestation after the diagnosis of a megabladder and 2 umbilical cord cysts found on a routine screening ultrasound. The patient underwent subsequent 2D, 3D, and 4D ultrasound examinations, as well as a fetal MRI.

These studies revealed a typical umbilical cyst and an extra-abdominal cyst communicating with the dome of the bladder through a small channel that increased in size when the fetus voided. In this particular case, termination of the pregnancy occurred at 31 weeks because of associated cerebral septal agenesis. The autopsy that was performed on the fetus confirmed the prenatal diagnosis of an urachal cyst.

This case shows that as the imaging modalities improve over time, more accurate diagnoses can be made regarding the urinary system. This will allow us, as health care providers, to counsel the family on any abnormalities or anomalies found on prenatal studies. This could help us truly detect what is of importance and what are just incidental findings that might not have any clinical meaning at all.

Fuchs F, Picone O, Levaillant JM, Mabille M, Mas AE, Frydman R, Senat MV
Fetal Diagn Ther. 2008 Nov 20;24(4):444-447.
doi:10.1159/000174572

Written by UroToday.com Medical Editor Pasquale Casale, MD

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