title: Anal canal duplication in infants and children--a series of 6 cases.
abstract: The authors present a series of six anal canal duplications (ACD), duplications of the alimentary tract located along the posterior side of the anal canal, with a perineal opening just behind the anus. Five asymptomatic duplications were diagnosed before the age of one year, by simple perineal inspection. A twelve-year-old girl presented with perineal and anal pains and diarrhoea. Fistulography revealed a tubular structure in five cases and a cystic structure in one case, behind the normal anal canal, in one case communicating with it. A presacral sacrococcygeal teratoma was found in two children and in one case it was visualised by preoperative US in an infant with a lumbosacral myelomeningocele. Surgical excision was performed by a perineal approach in 5 cases, by a combined sacral and perineal approach in the last case, because of the associated teratoma. Non-invasive preoperative investigations, consisting of a pelvic X-ray, US examination, barium enema and fistulography, are sufficient in most cases; MRI is reserved for special indications. Surgical treatment restores a normal perineal aspect, without sequelae, and avoids complications like those described in other types of digestive duplications: infection, ulceration, bleeding, malignant changes during later adult life. Associated anomalies are frequently described in the literature, especially presacral tumours (16%) and anorectal malformations (21%); they can influence the management, the surgical approach and the functional prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Service de Chirurgie Pédiatrique, Hĵpital Albert Michallon, Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire de Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jacquier
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dobremez
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Piolat
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Dyon
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nugues
mesh_terms: D001003:Anal Canal / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D004065:Digestive System Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016896:Treatment Outcome