IN-UTERO SONOGRAPHIC DIAGNOSIS OF VESICOURETERAL REFLUX BY PERCUTANEOUS VESICOINFUSION

Vesicoureteral reflux affects approximately 1% of newborns. Although m ost affected children show only sonographic evidence of renal pelvic d ilatation, others may show overt hydronephrosis, indistinguishable fro m that seen in fetuses with obstructive uropathy. Hydronephrosis secon dary to fetal vesicoureteral reflux cannot be differentiated on ultras ound examination from that resulting from lower obstructive uropathy w ith or without reflux. As renal damage from vesicoureteral reflux may occur in up to 70% of cases, early identification and possible in uter o treatment of these fetuses may be warranted. We report a sonographic technique, vesicoinfusion, for diagnosis of vesicoureteric reflux in utero. The accurate identification of vesicoureteral reflux in utero m ay have important diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic implications.