Multicystic Dysplastic Kidney Disease

Seen in approximately one in 4,300 births and affecting males slightly more often than females, multicystic dysplastic kidney disease occurs when one kidney (usually the left) forms abnormally in the womb and cannot function properly at birth.

Diagnosed through routine prenatal ultrasound, computed tomography, nuclear scanning and fetal MRI, multicystic dysplastic kidney disease cannot be treated with fetal intervention and rarely requires treatment after birth.

In most cases, the affected kidney naturally regresses and vanishes over time. In rare cases, we may recommend surgical removal of the affected kidney—a relatively simple procedure that typically requires an overnight stay in the hospital.