RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Renal ultrasonography not required in babies with isolated minor ear anomalies
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition
JO Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP F29
OP F30
DO 10.1136/adc.2005.083329
VO 91
IS 1
A1 S A Deshpande
A1 H Watson
YR 2006
UL http://fn.bmj.com/content/91/1/F29.abstract
AB Aim: To determine whether infants with isolated minor anomalies of the external ear are at increased risk of renal malformations. Methods: Consecutive infants with isolated minor anomalies of the external ear (preauricular skin tags, preauricular sinuses, ear pits, and misshapen pinnae) were offered renal ultrasonography by experienced sonographers over a 41 month period. The prevalence of renal anomalies in such infants was compared with that detected on routine fetal scanning during the same period. Results: Ninety six of 13 136 liveborn infants (7.3/1000, 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.9 to 8.9) were noted to have isolated minor ear anomalies on routine neonatal examination, with preauricular skin tags being the most common (85%). Ninety one (95%) infants underwent renal sonography at a mean (SD) age of 40 (19.6) days. Only one infant (1.1%, 95% CI 0.03 to 5.9) had transient unilateral pyelectasia. During the same period, non-syndromic renal anomalies were found in 0.64% (95% CI 0.52 to 0.73) of infants, a prevalence no different from that of infants with minor ear anomalies (p  =  0.44). Conclusions: Routine renal imaging is not warranted in infants with such minor external ear anomalies unless accompanied by other systemic malformations.