title: Prenatal diagnosis of persistent cloaca associated with VATER (vertebral defects, anal atresia, tracheo-esophageal fistula, and renal dysplasia).
abstract: The cloaca is a single canal from which the urinary, genital, and intestinal tracts arise around gestational weeks 5-6. Persistent cloaca can result from cystic mass formation within the pelvis, which is commonly association with multiple developmental defects. VATER association, which is a spectrum of anomalies, manifested by vertebral defects, anal atresia, tracheo-esophageal fistula with esophageal atresia, and renal dysplasia, arises from abnormalities in mesodermal differentiation. Recently, both conditions have been proposed to represent a continuous spectrum of anomalies, but the pathophysiology concerning the continuity of the development and the clinical condition are still unclear. Since renal failure becomes a serious problem after birth, timely infant delivery is essential to avoid loss of renal function. We report a patient, in whom the overlap between these two conditions was identified, and renal function was lost from one kidney. A polycystic mass was found in the fetal abdomen at 26 weeks of gestation. By ultrasonography, we detected a polycystic left kidney, a single umbilical artery, a ventricular septal defect, an esophageal atresia, ascites, an anal atresia, and a cystic mass with debris behind the bladder. The left kidney was non-functioning and the right kidney showed signs of hydronephrosis at 30 weeks of gestation. We measured the size and the blood flow of renal artery sequentially, and could deliver the fetus before the function was lost from the right kidney. Our observations will help inform future patients where prompt intervention can help improve renal function and infant health.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Japan.
authors: Miki
authors: M
authors: Mori
authors: Keiichi
authors: K
authors: Matsubara
authors: Emiko
authors: E
authors: Abe
authors: Yuko
authors: Y
authors: Matsubara
authors: Tomihiro
authors: T
authors: Katayama
authors: Toru
authors: T
authors: Fujioka
authors: Yasuki
authors: Y
authors: Kusanagi
authors: Masaharu
authors: M
authors: Ito
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000328:Adult; D001006:Anus, Imperforate / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002988:Cloaca / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D021782:Multicystic Dysplastic Kidney / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D013131:Spine / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014138:Tracheoesophageal Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal