Early Diagnosis of Bladder Exstrophy: Quantitative Assessment of a Low-Inserted Umbilical Cord

A case report of single umbilical artery combined with fetal bladder exstrophy in singleton pregnancy and related literature review

BACKGROUND

According to prenatal ultrasonographic studies, single umbilical artery may be present alone or in association with other fetal abnormalities. So far, the exact pathogenesis of bladder exstrophy is unclear. Some scholars believe that bladder exstrophy and cloacal exstrophy should be regarded as a disease spectrum to explore their pathogenesis. If bladder exstrophy and cloacal exstrophy are regarded as the same disease spectrum, then we can speculate that the single umbilical artery should have the probability of being accompanied by bladder exstrophy at the same time.

CASE PRESENTATION

For the first time, we report a rare case of fetal bladder exstrophy with single umbilical artery in single pregnancy. This patient underwent targeted color Doppler ultrasound at 26 weeks of pregnancy which first suspected bladder exstrophy with single umbilical artery and fetal MRI for diagnosis at 38 + 3 weeks of pregnancy which confirmed the suspicion. After the diagnosis was confirmed, the patient was scheduled for a multidisciplinary discussion. Ultimately the patient opted for induced fetal demise at 38 + 5 weeks of pregnancy and the physical appearance of the fetal demise affirmed previous ultrasound and MRI examination results.

CONCLUSIONS

Our report is the first finding of single umbilical artery combined with bladder exstrophy in a singleton pregnancy. Accordingly, our case enhances the evidence that cloacal exstrophy and bladder exstrophy should be treated as the same disease spectrum. In addition, we conducted a literature review on the diagnostic progress of single umbilical artery combined with bladder exstrophy, hoping to provide useful references for the diagnosis of this disease.

Color Doppler evaluation of umbilical arteries in relation to bony landmarks in the fetal pelvis as a clue to the mid-trimester diagnosis of bladder exstrophy: A novel observation

Color Doppler (CD) is an established diagnostic modality for bladder exstrophy. We present two mid-trimester difficult-to-diagnose cases with no obvious infraumbilical mass bulge, assessed by CD in sagittal and axial pelvic views. The first case was a classical bladder exstrophy at 19 weeks nestled under the umbilical-cord and the second case was an omphalocele-exstrophy-imperforate-anus-spinal complex at 18 weeks 4 days gestation with exstrophic bladder embedded under the omphalocele. The altered course of umbilical arteries in relation to pelvic bony landmarks seen in these fetuses could be an objective approach to complement mid-trimester diagnosis of bladder exstrophy regardless of mass bulge.

Pattern Recognition of Abdominal Vasculature on Color Doppler in the Fetus as a Tool for Early Diagnosis of Bladder Exstrophy in the First and Early-Second Trimester: Initial Observations

Early prenatal diagnosis of bladder exstrophy is challenging because of its variable size and presentation. This article brings forth new signs on color Doppler (CD) to help establish the diagnosis in a suspected case. Two cases of omphalocele-exstrophy-imperforate anus-spinal defects complex presenting as a solid-cystic ventral mass at 11 weeks and a solid lower abdominal wall mass at 20 weeks, with nonvisualization of the urinary bladder, were studied by gray-scale and CD in sagittal and transverse-bladder views of the abdomen. The sagittal view on CD revealed an altered intrafetal course of umbilical artery (UA), widened UA-aorta angle (K angle), a break in the intersection of UA, and umbilical vein (UV) at the umbilicus—broken “X-sign” with distortion of the equilateral triangle normally formed by aorta, UA, and UV. The transverse-bladder view showed an altered divergent course of single-UA. Combination of these findings substantiated early diagnosis of bladder exstrophy, thus facilitating prenatal counseling.

Key Messages

Management of bladder exstrophy in an adolescent girl: a case report

Bladder exstrophy (BE) is a very rare congenital abnormality, especially in girls. We reported a 17-year-old girl with protruded bladder and urinary incontinence. Her vaginal orifice appeared stenotic and shifted anteriorly. She had an incomplete labia minora, short perineum, and anterior displacement of the anus. The pelvic radiography showed a pubic diastasis with a manta ray sign, and the ultrasonography examination showed a bicornuate uterus. She had undergone a functional reconstruction surgery with cystectomy, ileal conduit, appendectomy, and vaginoplasty along with the advancement of abdominal flap reconstruction with multiple Z-plasty. Functionally, she was able to urinate through the ileal conduit comfortably, had a regular menstrual cycle with minimal pain, had a wider vaginal canal, and had a smooth blood flow. Aesthetically, she had a good lower abdomen appearance, remained dry, and had an odorless urine. In clinical practice, this rare case report can provide additional knowledge and management of the same cases with effective results.

Isolated bladder exstrophy in prenatal diagnosis

PURPOSE

Isolated classic bladder exstrophy (CBE) is the most common variant of the bladder-exstrophy-epispadias complex (BEEC). The BEEC represents a spectrum ranging from isolated epispadias over CBE to the most severe form, cloacal exstrophy. We report on a series of 12 cases with CBE diagnosed prenatally and illustrate the spectrum of prenatal ultrasound findings with comparison to prior published reports on this entity.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study involving 12 fetuses with CBE at two large tertiary referral centers in Germany over a 14-year period (2004-2018).

RESULTS

Median diagnosis was made with ultrasound in 24 + 5 (IQR_25,75: 21 + 2, 29 + 0) weeks of gestation. All fetuses presented with the pathognomonic findings non-visualization of the fetal bladder and protruding abdominal mass below the umbilical cord insertion. All fetuses showed normal kidney anatomy and normal amniotic fluid throughout pregnancy. Epispadia was visible prenatally on ultrasound in 6/8 male fetuses. 1/12 Parents opted for termination of pregnancy, 11/12 fetuses were live born and received reconstructive surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Isolated CBE is an extremely rare prenatal sonographic finding. Prenatal diagnostics should exclude additional malformations within the spectrum of cloacal malformations.

Extraordinary Bulging Mass in the Foetus - A Case Report of Bladder Exstrophy

INTRODUCTION: Prenatal diagnosis of bladder exstrophy is extremley rare and difficult. BACKGROUND: Due to abnormal development of the cloacal membrane there is an incomplete closure of the lower abdominal wall, absence of the anterior wall of the bladder and external exposition of the posterior wall. The pubic bones are usually separated, the umbilical cord low inserted and there is abnormal external genitalia development. CASE REPORT: At 21st week of gestation of 39-year-old multigravida multipara referred by a primary care obstetrician to high-specialised centre for a detailed ultrasound examination with a suspicion of bladder absence and inferior umbilical localisation. At 29 weeks of gestation presence of bulging mass of 2 cm, between the umbilical outlet and labia was detected. At 31 weeks of gestation previously detected structure among thighs had 3 cm diameter with lateral umbilical outlet. Major labia were prominent and minor labia were within normal limits. Between two umbilical arteries with an appropriate intraabdominal course there were no transsonic area corresponding to the urinary bladder. The newborn baby was born at term in a good condition, but with an exposed bladder of 4 cm in diameter. The urethral outlet was not visualised and the female genitals were abnormal. After a month the girl underwent primary bladder exstrophy closure. Although she suffers from recurring urinary tract infections, she is in a good general condition. CONCLUSIONS: Due to prenatal diagnostics it was possible to detect and make an initial diagnosis of severe malformation. Early diagnosis allowed to prepare parents for a newborn with a defect and teach them how to take care of the baby.

Contemporary issues relating to transitional care in bladder exstrophy

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