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Three-dimensional sonographic measurement of fetal renal volume

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Abstract

Objective

The objective of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the growth of the fetal kidney in normal pregnancies using three-dimensional ultrasound.

Methods

Three-dimensional sonographic examinations were performed on 13 appropriate-for-gestational-age fetuses. Fetal renal volume was measured every 2 to 3 weeks after 20 weeks gestational age until delivery.

Results

There was a good linear correlation between left and right renal volumes (r = 0.9614, P < 0.0001). Curvilinear relationships were found between gestational age and left and right renal volume (left: R2 = 79.1%, P < 0.0001; right: R2 = 74.2%, P < 0.0001), and normal ranges of left and right renal volume measurements for estimating the growth of the fetal kidney during normal pregnancy were generated. There was a difference for each predicted value of the fetal renal volume in the third trimester of pregnancy in our study and in two other previous studies. The left and right fetal renal volume to estimated fetal weight ratios were constant during the pregnancies studied.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that fetal renal volume measurement plays a role in assessment of the growth of fetal kidneys. However, we are doubtful about the reproducibility of fetal renal volume measurements made by using three-dimensional ultrasound in utero. Further studies involving larger sample sizes are needed to reevaluate the usefulness and reproducibility of fetal renal volume measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Perinatology and Gynecology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki, Kagawa, 761-0793, Japan

    Atsushi Kuno, Eisuke Inubashiri, Kenji Kanenishi & Toshiyuki Hata

Authors
  1. Atsushi Kuno
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  2. Eisuke Inubashiri
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  3. Kenji Kanenishi
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  4. Toshiyuki Hata
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Correspondence to Toshiyuki Hata.

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Kuno, A., Inubashiri, E., Kanenishi, K. et al. Three-dimensional sonographic measurement of fetal renal volume. J Med Ultrasonics 33, 43–47 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-005-0067-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-005-0067-6

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