Sonja Brennan1, David Watson2, Donna Rudd3, Michal Schneider4, Yogavijayan Kandasamy5. 1. Ultrasound Department, The Townsville Hospital, IMB 47 P.O. Box 670, Douglas, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia; College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia. Electronic address: sonja.brennan@my.jcu.edu.au. 2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Townsville Hospital, IMB 85 P.O. Box 670, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia. 3. College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia. 4. Department of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, School of Primary And Allied Health Care, 10 Chancellors Way, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia. 5. College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia; Department of Neonatology, The Townsville Hospital, IMB 51 P.O. Box 670, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia; Mothers and Babies Research Centre, Hunter Medical Research Institute, John Hunter Hospital, The University of Newcastle,University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To determine the role of ultrasound imaging in evaluating fetal kidney growth. METHODS: MEDLINE, CINAHL and EMBASE databases were electronically searched for studies between 1996 and January 2017 and limited to English language. Studies were included if they reported on an ultrasound technique to assess fetal kidney growth and they were not a case report or case series. There was independent selection of studies by two reviewers in consensus with one other reviewer. Data were extracted by one reviewer in consensus with two other reviewers. RESULTS: A total of 1785 articles were identified. The full text of 39 of these were assessed for eligibility for inclusion. Twenty-eight studies were then included in the review. Standard two dimensional (2D) fetal renal measurements are easy to perform, however, this review identified that most studies had some methodological limitations. The disadvantage with 2D and three dimensional (3D) fetal renal volumes are that they include the entire kidney and good reproducibility of 3D volumes has not yet been demonstrated. Currently there is limited research on fetal kidney growth in the setting of abnormal fetal growth. Research focussing directly on fetal kidney parenchyma and blood flow is scarce. CONCLUSIONS: Some nomograms of 2D and 3D fetal kidney size and volume have been developed. Kidney length is the most popular single fetal kidney measurement; however, it does not seem to be a good indicator of growth. In IUGR fetuses, kidney length remained similar to appropriately grown fetuses whereas AP and TS dimensions were significantly decreased. New ultrasound techniques focusing on the parenchyma of the kidney and perfusion to the kidney should be explored as they may provide more meaningful information on kidney development in the fetus and future kidney function.
PURPOSE: To determine the role of ultrasound imaging in evaluating fetal kidney growth. METHODS: MEDLINE, CINAHL and EMBASE databases were electronically searched for studies between 1996 and January 2017 and limited to English language. Studies were included if they reported on an ultrasound technique to assess fetal kidney growth and they were not a case report or case series. There was independent selection of studies by two reviewers in consensus with one other reviewer. Data were extracted by one reviewer in consensus with two other reviewers. RESULTS: A total of 1785 articles were identified. The full text of 39 of these were assessed for eligibility for inclusion. Twenty-eight studies were then included in the review. Standard two dimensional (2D) fetal renal measurements are easy to perform, however, this review identified that most studies had some methodological limitations. The disadvantage with 2D and three dimensional (3D) fetal renal volumes are that they include the entire kidney and good reproducibility of 3D volumes has not yet been demonstrated. Currently there is limited research on fetal kidney growth in the setting of abnormal fetal growth. Research focussing directly on fetal kidney parenchyma and blood flow is scarce. CONCLUSIONS: Some nomograms of 2D and 3D fetal kidney size and volume have been developed. Kidney length is the most popular single fetal kidney measurement; however, it does not seem to be a good indicator of growth. In IUGR fetuses, kidney length remained similar to appropriately grown fetuses whereas AP and TS dimensions were significantly decreased. New ultrasound techniques focusing on the parenchyma of the kidney and perfusion to the kidney should be explored as they may provide more meaningful information on kidney development in the fetus and future kidney function.