Marisa E Schwab1,2, Hillary J Braun1,2, Vickie A Feldstein2,3, Amar Nijagal1,2. 1. Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. 2. UCSF Fetal Treatment Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. 3. Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The incidence of fetal gallstones is estimated at 0.45% and its clinical relevance after birth remains unknown. This study aimed to describe the natural history of fetal gallstones and their clinical sequelae after birth. METHODS: We queried a database of fetuses referred for second and third trimester sonograms performed for high-risk pregnancies, and identified cases with fetal gallstones (1996-2019). Demographics, prenatal/postnatal imaging findings, and clinical sequelae were collected. A literature review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: We screened approximately 200,000 obstetric sonograms; 34 fetuses were found to have cholelithiasis. The median gestational age at the time of sonogram was 35 weeks (range 22-38). Fifty-six percent were female and 11.8% were twin pregnancies with one affected fetus. Median maternal age was 28 years (range 17-42). Eight fetuses underwent postnatal imaging and 4 had persistent cholelithiasis. There was one case of in utero demise. Two patients had structural anomalies (renal and cardiac) by sonogram. A subset of 17 patients was followed long-term (range 3-20 years), and none developed clinical sequelae from cholelithiasis. DISCUSSION/ CONCLUSIONS: No child developed postnatal clinical sequelae related to cholelithiasis identified in utero. Fetal cholelithiasis can be managed expectantly without follow-up imaging in asymptomatic patients.
INTRODUCTION: The incidence of fetal gallstones is estimated at 0.45% and its clinical relevance after birth remains unknown. This study aimed to describe the natural history of fetal gallstones and their clinical sequelae after birth. METHODS: We queried a database of fetuses referred for second and third trimester sonograms performed for high-risk pregnancies, and identified cases with fetal gallstones (1996-2019). Demographics, prenatal/postnatal imaging findings, and clinical sequelae were collected. A literature review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: We screened approximately 200,000 obstetric sonograms; 34 fetuses were found to have cholelithiasis. The median gestational age at the time of sonogram was 35 weeks (range 22-38). Fifty-six percent were female and 11.8% were twin pregnancies with one affected fetus. Median maternal age was 28 years (range 17-42). Eight fetuses underwent postnatal imaging and 4 had persistent cholelithiasis. There was one case of in utero demise. Two patients had structural anomalies (renal and cardiac) by sonogram. A subset of 17 patients was followed long-term (range 3-20 years), and none developed clinical sequelae from cholelithiasis. DISCUSSION/ CONCLUSIONS: No child developed postnatal clinical sequelae related to cholelithiasis identified in utero. Fetal cholelithiasis can be managed expectantly without follow-up imaging in asymptomatic patients.
Authors: R Cancho Candela; J Díaz González; C Perandones Fernández; B Viñuela Rueda; A Relea Sarabia; J María Andrés de Llano Journal: An Pediatr (Barc) Date: 2004-10 Impact factor: 1.500