[Echographic diagnosis of fetal urinary malformations (author's transl)].

Echotomography performed during the last third of the pregnancy is able to demonstrate congenital malformation of the urinary tract in the foetus. Two main types of malformations can be distinguished from a practical point of vue : the obstructive uropathies (hydronephrosis, megaureters, urethral valves) and non obstructive malformations (multicystic kidneys, polycystic disease). It is mainly in the first group that early knowledge of the malformation will allow earlier surgical correction, hopefully before infectious complications develop.