Complementary Role of MRI After Sonography in Assessing Bilateral Urinary Tract Anomalies in the Fetus

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Abstract
OBJECTIVE. The objectives of our study were to evaluate the contribution of adding MRI findings to inconclusive sonographic data when assessing fetal urinary tract anomalies and to determine how this addition may affect the management of pregnancy.SUBJECTS AND METHODS. We prospectively used MRI to study 16 third-trimester fetuses in whom sonography suggested bilateral urinary tract anomalies but failed to provide a definite diagnosis. These anomalies included enlarged hyperechoic kidneys (n = 6), bilateral pelvicaliceal dilatation (n = 6), renal cystic lesions (n = 2), and renal agenesis associated with severe oligohydramnios (n = 2).RESULTS. The addition of MRI to sonography modified the diagnosis in five fetuses. In a fetus with suspected bilateral ureteropelvic obstruction, the diagnosis of bilateral ureterohydronephrosis associated with reflux or ureterovesical junction obstruction was made. In a fetus with an enlarged bladder at 32 weeks' gestational age, a possible diagnosis of megacystic microcolon...