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Abstract
<p>Lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO) is a rare but critical fetal diagnosis. Different ultrasound markers have been reported with varying sensitivity and specificity. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to identify the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound markers for LUTO. We performed a systematic literature review of studies reporting on fetuses with hydronephrosis or a prenatally suspected and/or postnatally confirmed diagnosis of LUTO. Bayesian bivariate random effects meta-analytic models were fitted, and we calculated posterior means and 95% credible intervals (CrI) for the pooled diagnostic odds ratio (DOR). A total of 36,189 studies were identified; 636 studies were available for full text review and a total of 42 studies were included in the Bayesian meta-analysis. Megacystis (DOR 49.15, [15.28, 177.44]), bilateral hydroureteronephrosis (DOR 41.33, [13.36,164.83]), bladder thickening (DOR 13.73, [1.23, 115.20]), bilateral hydronephrosis (DOR 8.36 [3.17, 21.91]), male sex (DOR 8.08 [3.05, 22.82]), oligohydramnios or anhydramnios (DOR 7.75 [4.23, 14.46]), and urinoma (DOR 7.47 [1.14, 33.18]) were found to be predictive of LUTO. The predictive sensitivities and specificities are low and wide study heterogeneity existed. Megacystis, bilateral hydroureteronephrosis, and bladder wall thickening are the most accurate predictors of LUTO. Given the significant consequences of a missed LUTO diagnosis, clinicians providing counselling for prenatal hydronephrosis should maintain a low threshold for considering LUTO as part of the differential diagnosis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.</p>