Age-Related Changes of the Human Fetal Kidney Size

Abstract

Early prenatal diagnostics and the importance of genetic counseling are of great interest for echosonographic evaluation of normal fetus anatomy. Development of the human fetal kidney runs through a series of continual and mutually dependent changes during which the kidney obtains its morphological and functional maturity. This study was created to estimate the changes in kidney size during gestation in fetuses from the 4th to the 10th lunar month, to evaluate the dynamics of their growth, as well as to establish the validity of the volume calculated from these dimensions. Serial measurements of kidney dimensions (length, width, thickness) were performed in 110 fetuses. Photomicrographs of kidneys from the 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th lunar months are also presented. On the basis of the results obtained by our examination, we concluded that the period from the 14th to 16th week of intrauterine life is the fastest period of kidney growth during fetal development. Using the ellipsoid formula for calculating the fetal renal volume offers an underestimation of about 32–33% on average. The importance of this study lies in determining the average fetal kidney dimensions, which could be used as standard values in obstetrics.

Size and volume charts of fetal kidney, renal pelvis and adrenal gland

“…Our charts of the fetal kidney and fetal renal pelvis were derived from longitudinal data obtained from prospective investigations that were carried out specifically for the development of centile charts for assessing renal size at a known gestational age between 16 and 42 weeks of gestation. Several charts of fetal kidney size have been published, but a number of the previous studies had shortcomings in their data collection or suffered from methodological pitfalls and used incorrect methods in their design. Moreover, our study has the added advantage that the statistical analysis used is able to correct for missing data.…”

Correlation Between Fetal Renal Volume and Fetal Renal Doppler in Normal and Growth Restricted Fetuses : An Initial Experience

“…Most accurate method is by three dimensional ultrasound with VOCAL method and most widely acceptable. (18,19) However doing three-dimensional ultrasound for kidney volume is not cost effective and hence we preferred doing two dimensional ultrasound in our study to calculate fetal renal volume which was more feasible and more or less precise.…”

“…(20) However others did not agree as they considered that kidney is not true ellipsoid and found that 24% to 32% underestimation of the fetal renal volume while using two dimensional ultrasound. (18,21) Renal Doppler parameters which we included in our study were peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity and pulsatility index. Renal artery pulsatility index is a measure of renal artery resistance and hence renal blood flow.…”

Feasibility of Measuring 3-Dimensional Renal Parenchymal Volume to Predict Postnatal Renal Function in Near-Term Fetuses With Congenital Hydronephrosis

“…We adjusted the renal pelvic diameter and renal volume with the fetal head circumference because the gestational age at sonography varied among the patients in this study (range, 30–39 weeks). We wanted to eliminate unnecessary bias according to fetal sizes and gestational ages 32 , 33 . Usually, the abdominal circumference is considered the parameter most strongly correlated with fetal sizes rather than other parameters 34 – 36 .…”

“…We wanted to eliminate unnecessary bias according to fetal sizes and gestational ages. 32,33 Usually, the abdominal circumference is considered the parameter most strongly correlated with fetal sizes rather than other parameters. [34][35][36] However, we chose to use the head circumference, a bony structure, because the abdominal circumference can be affected by hydronephrotic conditions in fetuses.…”