title: Echogenic foci in the dilated fetal colon may be associated with the presence of a rectourinary fistula.
abstract: Intraintestinal meconium calcification in the fetus and newborn is a rare finding, occurring in patients with intestinal obstruction. The intraluminal location of the enterolithiasis enables differentiation from calcifications that are secondary to bowel perforation and meconium peritonitis. We report on a term male neonate with VACTERL (vertebral defects, imperforate anus, cardiac anomalies, tracheoesophageal fistula, renal anomalies, limb anomalies) association and rectourethral fistula, in whom enterolithiasis was documented by prenatal ultrasound imaging at 21 weeks' gestation. A review of the literature and a summary of all previously described cases of neonates with intraluminal meconium calcifications are provided. Prenatal ultrasonographic detection of enterolithiasis in fetuses with anal atresia may indicate the presence of an enterourinary fistula.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Campus Virchow Klinikum, University Hospital Charité, Berlin, Germany. anja.pohl@charite.de
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pohl-Schickinger
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Henrich
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Degenhardt
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bassir
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hüseman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001006:Anus, Imperforate / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008470:Meconium / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012003:Rectal Fistula / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods; D014522:Urethral Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014548:Urinary Fistula / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging