Patient's question:
Doctor, during my 31-week ultrasound, it was found that the right renal pelvis of the fetus is dilated by 8mm. What could be the cause of this? The hospital has asked me to come back for a follow-up ultrasound in 3 weeks. But I have already had 4 ultrasounds. Could excessive ultrasound exposure have an impact on the fetus?Doctor's answer:
Hello, the renal pelvis can be simply said to be the place where the kidney and ureter connect. Renal pelvis dilation and separation are caused by conditions such as kidney stones or ureteral malformation, which prevent urine from being expelled normally, leading to the renal pelvis becoming filled and enlarged. Renal pelvis separation can also occur when a fetus holds its urine. Generally, if the renal pelvis separation is no more than 10mm, it falls within the normal range. If the fetal renal pelvis is no larger than 16mm at birth, there will be no problems. If it continues to grow, regular follow-ups or treatment should be considered. It can be said that the child's condition is normal, and there is no need to worry—just undergo regular follow-ups and treatment as needed.