Prenatal diagnosis and outcomes for fetuses with suspected pelvic kidney

Objective: Evaluation of demographic characteristics and postnatal outcomes of patients with suspected fetal pelvic kidney diagnosis followed in a tertiary center.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in Ankara Bilkent City Hospital perinatology clinic between 2020-2023. Demographic features, prenatal ultrasound findings, and postnatal outcomes were reported.

Results: Pelvic kidney localization was on the left in 11(55 %) patients, on the right in 7(35 %), and bilateral in 2(10 %) patients in prenatal ultrasonography. The gender of the 12(60 %) fetuses were male and 8(40 %) of them were female. The pelvic kidney was an isolated finding in 8(40 %) fetuses, additional findings were present in the remaining 12(60 %) fetuses. Pelvic kidney was confirmed postnatally by ultrasound in all 18 fetuses. However two cases with prenatal ultrasound findings resulted in intrauterine fetal demise and the final diagnosis could not be confirmed as the parents refused autopsia. Cases were divided into 3 groups according to postnatal follow-up duration as 0-12 months (n = 7), 12-24 months (n = 7) and 24-44 months (n = 4). Atrial septal defect was the most common accompanying abnormality in the postnatal period (n = 4). Smaller kidney size (n = 7), vesicoureteral reflux (n = 3), and impaired renal function (n = 3) were the most common postnatal complications.

Conclusion: Pelvic kidney can be diagnosed in fetal abnormality screening ultrasound and postnatal follow-up should be performed closely for the assessment of renal functions.