Prenatal Diagnosis and Neonatal Management of Congenital Urethral Diverticulum

Abstract

We present a series of male neonates with prenatally detected anterior urethral diverticula and discuss postnatal management. We retrospectively reviewed 3 cases of prenatally detected anterior urethral diverticula presenting between 1998 and 2005. An anterior urethral cystic mass was identified prenatally in all 3 patients. One mass spontaneously ruptured prenatally. The patient underwent diverticulectomy and urethroplasty at age 6 months. Two patients had obstructive uropathy with oligohydramnios and were delivered at 32 weeks of gestation. Both cases were managed by urethrostomy and subsequent diverticulectomy and urethroplasty at age 6 months. Infravesical obstruction from a urethral diverticulum can be accurately identified and differentiated from other causes prenatally. Marsupialization is an excellent option for temporary urinary diversion when the clinical situation precludes primary excision and repair.