Fetal Megacystis: Associated Structural Abnormalities and Obstetric Outcomes

Abstract

Purpose: We evaluated the obstetrical outcomes, ultrasonographic characteristics, and final diagnosis in pregnancies with fetal megacystis (FM). Methods: We evaluated the obstetrical outcomes and associated structural abnormalities of fetuses with FM detected between FM between 2000 and 2021. Results: 17 FM were diagnosed, 16 had follow up. 16 were early megacystis. 14/16 (87.5%) of pregnancies were terminated, 1/16 (6.25%) resulted in intrauterine death, and 1/16 (6.25%) survived. FM was associated with 13 other abnormal sonographic findings in 12/16 (75%) pregnancies. The most common associated ultrasound abnormality was umbilical cord cyst in 3/16 (18.75%). Recognized etiologies included posterior urethral valves (2), trisomy 18 (2), trisomy 13 (1), Prune Belly syndrome (1), and Megacystis-Microcolon-Hypoperistalsis syndrome (1). Conclusion: Most FM are detected in the 2nd trimester, most are electively terminated, are associated with other ultrasonic abnormalities in 75%, most commonly umbilical cord cyst, and have an identifiable cause in 44%.

Keywords:

• Fetal megacystis
• lower urinary tract obstruction
• obstetrical ultrasonography

Acknowledgments

This work was performed under the auspices of the Càtedra d’Investigació en Obstetrícia i Ginecologia of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Reproduction, Hospital Univeristari Dexeus, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.

Authors’ contributions

The following contributions were made by the authors: BS, ARM and LP: project conceptualization; IR: data generation; IR and MSP: data analysis; LP, PP and GA: clinical interpretation; MSP and BC: writing – original draft preparation; LP, PP, PB-S, ARM, BS and GA: writing – review and editing. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Statement of ethics

Not applicable. There are no potential risks to patients’ privacy. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained to review patient records.

Data availability statement

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this article and its supplementary material files. Further enquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

This work received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.