Prediction Of Postnatal Outcome Research Articles

Fetal MRI radiomics: non-invasive and reproducible quantification of human lung maturity

ObjectivesTo assess the reproducibility of radiomics features extracted from the developing lung in repeated in-vivo fetal MRI acquisitions.MethodsIn-vivo MRI (1.5 Tesla) scans of 30 fetuses, each including two axial and one coronal T2-weighted sequences of the whole lung with all other acquisition parameters kept constant, were retrospectively identified. Manual segmentation of the lungs was performed using ITK-Snap. One hundred radiomics features were extracted from fetal lung MRI data using Pyradiomics, resulting in 90 datasets. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) of radiomics features were calculated between baseline and repeat axial acquisitions and between baseline axial and coronal acquisitions.ResultsMRI data of 30 fetuses (12 [40%] females, 18 [60%] males) at a median gestational age of 24 + 5 gestational weeks plus days (GW) (interquartile range [IQR] 3 + 3 GW, range 21 + 1 to 32 + 6 GW) were included. Median ICC of radiomics features between baseline and repeat axial MR acquisitions was 0.92 (IQR 0.13, range 0.33 to 1), with 60 features exhibiting excellent (ICC > 0.9), 27 good (> 0.75–0.9), twelve moderate (0.5–0.75), and one poor (ICC < 0.5) reproducibility. Median ICC of radiomics features between baseline axial and coronal MR acquisitions was 0.79 (IQR 0.15, range 0.2 to 1), with 20 features exhibiting excellent, 47 good, 29 moderate, and four poor reproducibility.ConclusionStandardized in-vivo fetal MRI allows reproducible extraction of lung radiomics features. In the future, radiomics analysis may improve diagnostic and prognostic yield of fetal MRI in normal and pathologic lung development.Key Points• Non-invasive fetal MRI acquired using a standardized protocol allows reproducible extraction of radiomics features from the developing lung for objective tissue characterization.• Alteration of imaging plane between fetal MRI acquisitions has a negative impact on lung radiomics feature reproducibility.• Fetal MRI radiomics features reflecting the microstructure and shape of the fetal lung could complement observed-to-expected lung volume in the prediction of postnatal outcome and optimal treatment of fetuses with abnormal lung development in the future.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Cerebroplacental Ratio in Prediction of Postnatal Outcomes in Oligohydramnios.

The evidence on isolated oligohydramnios (IO) patients and their postnatal outcomes are inconsistent. Recent research has clarified the connection between that IO and negative outcomes in the postnatal period.Our goal was to analyze the correlation between Doppler measurements and postnatal outcomes in oligohydramnios patients, with a focus on the cerebroplacental ratio (CPR). A cohort study was conducted in the Radiology Departmentof Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) Hospitalfrom October 2021 to July 2022. One hundred women were chosen as the sample size. For this study, we used the Raosoft sample size calculator with a 95% confidence interval and a 5% margin of error. Both the middle cerebral artery and the umbilical artery were imaged using ultrasound, and the systolic-to-diastolic ratio and peak systolic velocity are recorded. Pulsatility index(PI) and resistive index (RI) were also calculated. If the amniotic fluid index (AFI) is less than 5 cm, the condition is known as oligohydramnios. The newborn's APGAR score was taken immediately after birth as well as after 5 minutes. We have determined that, on average, mothers are 35.45 weeks/248.15 days pregnant. When compared to the reference standard, CPRdiagnostic features showed a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 77.27. Overall diagnostic accuracy is predicted to be 93.0%, with a 93.50% positive prognosis and a 73.91% negative prognosis. The effect size for the change in APGAR scores before and after the test was -2.38 1.03, with a 95% confidence interval of -2.58 to -2.17 and a significance level of 0.00. This study concludes that CPR is an effective screening tool and that it can be used to predict postnatal outcomes in patients with oligohydramnios. Clinical prediction rules were found to be a more effective screening tool, with a sensitivity of 92%, a specificity of 77.27%, and a diagnostic accuracy of 92.3%.

Mediastinal shift angle (MSA) measurement with MRI: a simple and effective tool for prenatal risk stratification in fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

To investigate the predictive value of mediastinal shift angle (MSA) in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). A retrospective analysis was performed on 87 fetuses with prenatally diagnosed left-sided CDH (LCDH) and 88 controls. MSA was measured on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Lung area to head circumference ratio (LHR), ratio of the observed/expected LHR (O/E LHR), total fetal lung volume (TFLV), and observed/expected total fetal lung volume (O/E TFLV) were also measured. Correlation of MSA with pulmonary hypertension (PH), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) use, duration of hospitalization and survival in neonates with CDH was analyzed. Performance of MSA in prediction of postnatal outcomes was compared with LHR, O/E LHR, TFLV, and O/E TFLV. There were significant differences in MSA values not only between the CDH group and the control group but also in CDH patients with different survival outcomes. MSA was inversely correlated with O/E LHR, O/E TFLV, and TFLV. MSA, LHR, O/E LHR, TFLV, and O/E TFLV could all be used to predict survival of CDH patients. In addition, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that the test performance of MSA was similar to that of TFLV, O/E TFLV, and O/E LHR, but superior to that of LHR. MSA was also correlated with PH, need for ECMO support, and duration of hospitalization. MRI measurement of MSA can provide various prognostic information for prenatally diagnosed LCDH, in addition to postnatal survival. The test performance of MSA is similar to TFLV, O/E TFLV, and O/E LHR. • Mediastinal shift angle (MSA) can be measured quickly and reproducibly on MRI images. • MSA could provide more prognostic information other than postnatal survival for LCDH with good test performance. • MSA should be incorporated into prenatal risk stratification for LCDH to improve planning of postnatal management.

Renal pelvic dilation

Renal pelvic dilation

Prediction of postnatal outcome in fetuses with congenital lung malformation: 2-year follow-up study.

To identify, in fetuses with a congenital lung malformation (CLM), prenatal predictors of the need for postnatal respiratory support and the need for surgery by calculating the CLM volume ratio (CVR), and to evaluate the concordance between the prenatal appearance and the postnatal type of CLM. This was an analysis of prenatal, perinatal and postnatal data from fetuses diagnosed with a CLM at the Erasmus University Medical Center-Sophia Children's Hospital in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, between January 2007 and December 2016. For all included fetuses, CVR was measured retrospectively on stored ultrasound images obtained at 18 + 1 to 24 + 6 weeks (US1), 25 + 0 to 29 + 6 weeks (US2) and/or 30 + 0 to 35 + 6 weeks' gestation (US3). Postnatal diagnosis of CLM was based on computed tomography or histology. Primary outcomes were the need for respiratory support within 24 h and surgery within 2 years after birth. Of the 80 fetuses with a CLM included in this study, 14 (18%) required respiratory support on the first postnatal day, and 17 (21%) required surgery within 2 years. Only the CVR at US2 was predictive of the need for respiratory support, with a cut-off value of 0.39. Four of 16 (25%) fetuses which showed full regression of the CLM prenatally required respiratory support within 24 h after birth. The CVR at US1, US2 and US3 was predictive of surgery within 2 years. Overall, the prenatal appearance of the CLM showed low concordance with the postnatal type. Prenatally suspected microcystic congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) was shown on computed tomography after birth to be congenital lobar overinflation in 15/35 (43%) cases. Respiratory support within 24 h after birth and surgical resection within 28 days after birth were needed in all cases of macrocystic CPAM. CVR can predict the need for respiratory support within 24 h after birth and for surgery within 2 years. Regression of a CLM prenatally does not rule out respiratory problems after birth. © 2020 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. - Legal Statement: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.

Розміри легень при різних анатомічних варіантах вродженої діафрагмальної грижі у плода

The objective: to compare lung indices in fetuses with different anatomical variants of left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia, determined by two-dimensional ultrasound examination. Materials and methods. Data from 157 ultrasound examinations in 136 fetuses as patients with the most typical anatomical variants of left-sided diaphragmatic hernia were analyzed. The area of the lungs and the herniated liver were measured in the standard cross section of fetal thorax, at the level of a four-chamber view, with following calculation of prognostic indices. Comparison of indices’ means in groups depending on the abdominal organs herniated into fetal chest was performed using Student’s t-test. Results. The most numerous group in our study was one with herniation of the liver, stomach and intestines (62.5%). Significantly lower values of all lung indices were found in this group (p≤0.0001). In particular, observed-to-expected area ratio equaled to 35.59±8.8 and 31.73±10.51 in these fetuses in II and III trimesters respectively. In fetuses with intestines herniation, this index was 60.67±10.93 and 57.37±7.98, in fetuses with stomach and intestines herniation – 53.20±7.02 and 51.77±9.57 in II and III trimesters, respectively. Differential analysis of lung indices depending on the degree of liver herniation showed the presence of statistically highly significant difference in both second and third trimesters. In the group with mild liver herniation, the largest lung sizes and indices were determined, which were similar to values registered in groups without hepatic herniation. The lowest values of all lung indices were registered in the group with severe liver herniation. Conclusions. The anatomical variant of left diaphragmatic hernia with herniation of liver, stomach and intestines into thorax was the most common among our study population; in this group the lowest values of term-independent lung indices were observed. However, this group turned out to be heterogeneous: with different degrees of liver herniation, different degrees of pulmonary hypoplasia were found. Significant differences in lung indices found in II trimester can become a basis for early assessment of the severity of pathology and prediction of postnatal outcome. Keywords: congenital diaphragmatic hernia, liver herniation, pulmonary hypoplasia, lung size, prenatal diagnosis.

OC31.03: Prediction of postnatal outcome in fetuses with a congenital lung malformation: a two‐year follow‐up study

OC31.03: Prediction of postnatal outcome in fetuses with a congenital lung malformation: a two‐year follow‐up study

Severe fetal hydronephrosis: the added value of associated congenital anomalies of the kidneys and urinary tract (CAKUT) in the prediction of postnatal outcome.

The aim of this study was to focus on fetuses diagnosed with severe hydronephrosis and correlate prenatal sonographic characteristics with postnatal outcome. Cases presenting prenatally with severe hydronephrosis (anterior-posterior renal pelvic diameter >15mm) were collected retrospectively over a period of 11years and divided into 2 groups: (1) isolated hydronephrosis and (2) those associated with congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT). A total of 83 fetuses comprised the study group: 35 fetuses had isolated severe hydronephrosis and 48 had associated CAKUT. The mean anterior-posterior renal pelvic diameter was 22.6±8.5mm (range 15.0-66.0mm). The CAKUT group was associated with a significantly increased incidence of postnatal need for surgery (17.6% vs 44.2%, P=.014), dysplastic kidney (0% vs 14%, P=.023), and total abnormal outcome (52.9% vs 86%, P=.001) in comparison with isolated severe prenatal hydronephrosis. Severe fetal hydronephrosis has a wide postnatal clinical spectrum, which is mainly influenced by the presence of associated sonographic CAKUT findings. These clinical data have biological relevance: a genetic or environmental defect that influences multiple renal developmental processes leads to hydronephrosis but also to concomitant malformations (CAKUT) and critically influences renal prognosis. A more selective abnormal developmental process that results in isolated enlarged pelvis even to a severe extent has less influence on renal prognosis.

P12.11: Prenatal severe hydronephrosis: the added value of CAKUT in the prediction of postnatal outcome

P12.11: Prenatal severe hydronephrosis: the added value of CAKUT in the prediction of postnatal outcome

Correlation between lung to thorax transverse area ratio and observed/expected lung area to head circumference ratio in fetuses with left-sided diaphragmatic hernia.

Observed/expected lung area to head circumference ratio (o/e LHR) and lung to thorax transverse area ratio (LTR) are the sonographic indicators of postnatal outcome in fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), and they are not influenced by gestational age. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between these two parameters in the same subjects with fetal left-sided CDH. Fetuses with left-sided CDH managed between 2005 and 2012 were included. Data of LTR and o/e LHR values measured on the same day prior to 33 weeks' gestation in target fetuses were retrospectively collected. The correlation between the two parameters was estimated using the Spearman's rank-correlation coefficient, and linear regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between them. Data on 61 measurements from 36 CDH fetuses were analyzed to obtain a Spearman's rank-correlation coefficient of 0.74 with the following linear equation: LTR = 0.002 × (o/e LHR) + 0.005. The determination coefficient of this linear equation was sufficiently high at 0.712, and the prediction accuracy obtained with this regression formula was considered satisfactory. A good linear correlation between the LTR and the o/e LHR was obtained, suggesting that we can translate the predictive parameters for each other. This information is expected to be useful to improve our understanding of different investigations focusing on LTR or o/e LHR as a predictor of postnatal outcome in CDH.

Isolated prenatal ultrasound findings predict the postnatal course in gastroschisis.

The aim of the study was to identify which prenatal ultrasonographic findings in fetuses with gastroschisis correlate with complicated postnatal outcome. Ultrasound findings at the 30th week of pregnancy and medical reports were statistically analyzed to identify independent prenatal ultrasonographic predictors of postnatal outcome. Completed prenatal data were gathered from 64 pregnancies. Prenatal intra-abdominal bowel dilatation (cutoff 10 mm) correlated with the presence of atresia (p < 0.01), longer administration of parenteral nutrition, extended hospital stay (median 53 vs. 21 days; 68 vs. 36 days, both p < 0.05), and greater number of additional surgical procedures (p < 0.05). Infants with antenatal presence of thickened bowel wall (greater than or equal to 3 mm) required longer administration of parenteral nutrition (median 34 vs. 20 days; p < 0.01) and prolonged stay (median 44 vs. 37 days; p < 0.05). Presence of oligohydramnion (amniotic fluid index below 8 cm) was connected with longer administration of parenteral nutrition in newborns (median 30 vs. 16 days; p < 0.05). The isolated presence of oligohydramnion with amniotic fluid index below 8 cm, thickened bowel wall equal to or more than 3 mm and the prenatal intra-abdominal dilatation with 10 mm cutoff had significant predictive value for the adverse postnatal outcome of patients with gastroschisis.

Ultrasound antenatal detection of urinary tract anomalies in the last decade: outcome and prognosis

Objective: This study has been undertaken to determine the frequency and pattern of urinary tract anomalies diagnosed by ultrasound, to correlate the prenatal with postnatal diagnoses and to identify prognostic factors.Methods: The Ultrasound Unit's database was reviewed for fetal urinary tract anomalies detected between January 2002 and June 2012. Prenatal diagnoses made by ultrasound were confirmed by postnatal ultrasound, as well as with surgical reports. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann–Whitney U-test, Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests. p values <0.05 were considered significant.Results: A total of 838 fetal malformations were prenatally diagnosed by ultrasound with a frequency of 21% of urinary tract anomalies (177/838). Renal pelvis dilatation and hydronephrosis accounted for more than half of the cases (52%). The most frequent postnatal diagnoses were also urinary tract dilatations. The prenatal diagnoses corresponded to the postnatal ones in 88.8% of cases. There was a highly significant association between anterior–posterior renal pelvis diameter above 10 mm in the last ultrasound performed before the birth and the need for surgery (p < 0.01).Conclusion: We emphasize the high degree of reliability of prenatal ultrasound in the establishment of diagnosis of urinary tract malformations and the prediction of postnatal outcomes.

Resource Utilization and Costs Associated with the Diagnostic Evaluation of Nonrefluxing Primary Hydronephrosis in Infants

Long-term evaluation of postnatal nonrefluxing primary hydronephrosis presents a dilemma for urologists since most cases resolve without surgery. We report longitudinal resource utilization and costs associated with diagnostic evaluation of infants with isolated primary nonrefluxing hydronephrosis to determine the costs associated with diagnosing a surgical case, and we assess the implications using a cost-consequences analysis. A retrospective chart review was used to capture resource utilization for all patients younger than 6 months with hydronephrosis evaluated at our institution during a 5-year period. Infants with confounding urological diagnoses were excluded. Payer and societal perspectives were used. Costs were estimated from resource utilization, including radiographic imaging and clinical encounter types. Data were collected from first clinic visit until surgery or resolution or 3 years, whichever was shortest. Of 165 included patients surgical rates for hydronephrosis were 0% forgrade I, 5% for grade II, 21% for grade III and 74% for grade IV. Median respective costs of identifying a single surgical case per increasing hydronephrosis grade 0 to IV were infinite, $37,600, $11,741 and $2,124 (p <0.001), respectively. Diagnostic evaluation of higher grades of hydronephrosis is significantly more productive in terms of identifying patients requiring surgery vs evaluation of patients with lower grade disease. In patients with grades I and II hydronephrosis a more abbreviated diagnostic strategy than the current standard of care may be warranted. For the population in this analysis we project that a less intensive approach could save about 24% of costs.

Prenatal Tricuspid Valve Size as a Predictor of Postnatal Outcome in Patients with Severe Pulmonary Stenosis or Pulmonary Atresia with Intact Ventricular Septum

Introduction: Tricuspid valve (TV) size at birth correlates with intervention strategy in patients with severe pulmonary stenosis (SPS) or pulmonary atresia/intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS). Prenatal features that might predict postnatal TV size have not been well studied. We hypothesized that prenatal echocardiographic measurements predict the postnatal TV Z-score in fetuses with SPS and PA/IVS. Materials and Methods: We identified 16 neonates (gestational age 28 ± 4.8 weeks) with a fetal diagnosis of SPS or PA/IVS from 2001 to 2010. Measurements were performed offline. ROC (receiver operating characteristic) analysis was used to generate AUC (areas under the curve) for each of the variables. Results: AUC was 0.94 for tricuspid to mitral valve (TV/MV) ratio, 0.88 for TV Z-score, and 0.85 for TV inflow duration. A cut-off value of >0.63 for TV/MV yielded a sensitivity of 78%, specificity of 100% for predicting postnatal TV Z-score >-3. Neonates with TV Z-score ≥-3 and all fetuses with antegrade flow across the pulmonary valve or more than moderate tricuspid regurgitation had biventricular circulation in follow-up. Conclusion: Fetal TV/MV >0.63 predicts favorable TV Z-score at birth in patients with SPS and PA/IVS. Antegrade pulmonary valve flow and more than moderate tricuspid regurgitation also conferred a favorable outcome.

Factors Predicting Improvement of Renal Function After Pyeloplasty in Pediatric Patients: A Prospective Study

We assessed the specific preoperative sonographic and urinary factors that may be important in predicting renal function outcomes after pyeloplasty. We prospectively studied 52 consecutive patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction who underwent pyeloplasty at our tertiary care center between September 2009 and January 2011. Mean ± 2 SD patient age was 4.26 years (range 3 months to 18 years), and minimum followup was 6 months. Preoperative ultrasound findings recorded were pelvic anteroposterior diameter, pelvic cortical thickness, pelvic volume and pelvic cortical ratio. Spot urine protein-to-creatinine ratio from the renal pelvis and bladder was measured intraoperatively. Based on changes in differential renal function on diuretic renogram, patients were divided into 3 groups. Group 1 had stable differential renal function with less than 5% change, group 2 had improved differential renal function greater than 5% and group 3 had deterioration of differential renal function greater than 5%. Data were analyzed using SPSS®, version 17 with cross-tabulation, nonparametric tests and logistic regression. On ultrasound only anteroposterior diameter (p = 0.018) and pelvic cortical ratio (p = 0.038) were significantly different among the 3 groups. Difference in bladder sample protein-to-creatinine ratio was not significant (p = 0.69), while pelvic urine protein-to-creatinine ratio was significant (p = 0.001). Anteroposterior diameter, pelvic protein-to-creatinine ratio and pelvic cortical ratio were less than 50 mm, 0.5 and 15, respectively, in all patients with improved renal function. Sonographic and urinary biochemical parameters may predict improvement in renal function after pyeloplasty. Pelvic anteroposterior diameter, pelvic cortical ratio and pelvic urine protein-to-creatinine ratio are the most useful parameters.

Predictors of postnatal outcome in neonates with gastroschisis

Background/Purpose The optimal management of neonates with gastroschisis is unclear, and there is a significant morbidity. We performed a review of neonates with gastroschisis treated at our center of pediatric surgery over the last 21 years to determine predictive factors of outcome. Methods Single-center retrospective analysis of 79 neonates with gastroschisis (1989-2009) was done. Length of hospital stay (LOS), days of parenteral nutrition (PN), and survival were outcome measures. Univariate and multiple regression analyses were used. Results Overall survival was 92%, and primary closure was achieved in 80%. Median LOS was 25 days, and median duration on PN, 17 days. Intestinal atresia, closed gastroschisis, secondary closure, and sepsis were the primary variables associated with poor outcome independent of other variables, but prematurity also affected outcome. Route of delivery and associated malformations were not related to poorer outcome. Necrotizing enterocolitis did not occur in any of our patients. Conclusion Outcome in our patients was favorable as measured by survival, LOS, and days on PN. Primary predictors of poor outcome were factors related to short bowel syndrome and secondary closure, indicating a need to further improve treatment of short bowel syndrome.

Pulmonary atresia/critical stenosis with intact ventricular septum: prediction of outcome in the second trimester of pregnancy

To determine which cardiac parameters provide the best prediction of postnatal outcome--biventricular (BV) versus non-BV--in fetuses with pulmonary atresia/critical stenosis with intact ventricular septum (PA/CS-IVS). We searched our database for cases of PA/CS-IVS prenatally diagnosed in 2001-2009. Only fetuses diagnosed ≤28 weeks were included. Data of 16 fetuses (nine PA, seven CS) were retrieved and analyzed. Receiver-operating characteristics curves were constructed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of cardiac features for predicting postnatal outcome. Twelve fetuses had a BV outcome and four had non-BV repair. Cut-off values yielding the best results for a non-BV outcome were a tricuspid valve/mitral valve ratio ≤0.83, a pulmonary valve/aortic valve ratio ≤0.75, tricuspid inflow duration/cardiac cycle length ≤36.5%, and a right ventricle/left ventricle length ratio ≤0.64. If 3/4 markers are present, this predicts a non-BV outcome with sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 92%, and both are 100% if all the four criteria are fulfilled. The postnatal outcome of fetuses with PA-CS/IVS can be predicted in the second trimester at the first echocardiography by a four-criterion scoring system. This is clinically relevant since it allows early selection of candidates for fetal intervention and early and precise parental counseling.

327: Prenatal tricuspid valve size as a predictor of postnatal outcome in patients with severe pulmonary stenosis or pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum

Severe pulmonary stenosis and atresia (PS, PAIVS) are cardiac anomalies in which right ventricular (RV) outflow is obstructed. Depending on in utero RV growth in the face of this obstruction, severe PS and PA/IVS may exhibit a spectrum of severity, requiring postnatal interventions including balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty alone, surgical biventricular repair, or staged single-ventricle palliation. Tricuspid valve (TV) size at birth has been shown to predict outcome with a TV Z-score <-3 associated with single-ventricle outcome, but prenatal echocardiographic features that might predict postnatal TV size (and outcome) have not been as well studied.Our objective was to determine whether prenatal TV size or other echo-derived cardiac variables can predict favorable postnatal TV diameter in fetuses with PS and PA/IVS.

Diffusion‐weighted MRI in lungs of normal fetuses and those with congenital diaphragmatic hernia

To prospectively determine apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of normally developing fetal lungs over gestation, as obtained by diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to investigate its potential application in fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Informed consent was obtained for this cross-sectional study of 93 fetuses with normal lungs and 14 with isolated left-sided CDH, assessed between 18 and 40 weeks of gestation. MRI delineation of left and right lungs was performed on the native DW image, b0, and three values of ADC, corresponding to the overall value (ADC(avg)), and values for low and high values of b (ADC(low) and ADC(high), respectively) were calculated. Regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between gestational age and b0-values as well as calculated ADC values. The b0 and ADC values of normal and CDH fetuses were compared with normal ranges using the Mann-Whitney U-test. In fetuses with normal lungs, there was a negative correlation between gestational age and b0 values as well as with ADC(high), a positive correlation with ADC(low) but no correlation with ADC(avg). When measurable, ADC(high) values were lower in CDH as compared to fetuses with normal lungs and ADC(low) values were higher. ADC(low) was unrelated to lung volume. There is a significant relationship between ADC(low) and ADC(high) values and gestational age in normal fetal lungs. This relationship is most probably explained by developmental changes during the last three stages of lung development, which involve intense peripheral growth of airways and vessels as well as maturation. In CDH, measurement of ADC(low) might be useful as a predictor of postnatal outcome that is independent of lung volume.

The significance of fetal renal pelvic dilatation as a predictor of postnatal outcome

Objectives. To define the clinical outcome of fetal renal pelvic dilatation (FRPD) in cohort of infants in United Arab Emirates.Study design. Data were collected from all fetuses having FRPD from January 2005 to February 2008. FRPD was graded as normal (<5 mm), mild (5–9 mm), moderate (10–15 mm), and severe (>15 mm).Results. Data from 80 fetuses with 120 kidneys were studied. Nine resolved antenatally and seven were lost to follow up. Of the remaining 89 FPRD (64 patients), 36% had normal postnatal ultrasound, 22.5% significant uropathy, and 41.5% had isolated hydronephrosis. Pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction was the commonest identified underlying abnormality. Severe FRPD predicted significant postnatal uropathy with a sensitivity of 65% and a specificity of 98.6%. Moderate FRPD increased the sensitivity to 95% but decreased the specificity to 60.9%, mild FPRD was seldom (4%) associated with significant postnatal pathology. Postnatal resolution was significantly (p = 0.01) higher in mild RPD than in the moderate or severe group.Conclusion. Severe FRPD need comprehensive postnatal assessment. Although moderate FRPD had a high prevalence of uropathy, they rarely needed surgical intervention. Parents could be reassured that RPD of less than 10 mm in the third trimester is unlikely to be associated with significant uropathology.