Imperforate anus: determination of type using transperineal ultrasonography.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to assess the usefulness of transperineal ultrasonography (US) for the determination of imperforate anus (IA) type.


METHODS
From January 2000 to December 2004, 46 of 193 patients with an IA underwent transperineal US prior to corrective surgery. Sonographic findings were reviewed to identify the presence of internal fistulas and to determine "distal rectal pouch to perineum (P-P)" distances. IA types were determined based on the sonographic findings, and the diagnostic accuracy of transperineal US was evaluated based on surgical findings.


RESULTS
Of the 46 patients, 17 patients were surgically confirmed as having a high-type IA, three patients were confirmed as having an intermediate-type IA and 26 patients were confirmed as having a low-type IA. The IA type was correctly diagnosed by the use of transperineal US in 39 of the 46 patients (85%). In 14 of the 17 patients with a high-type IA, internal fistulas were correctly identified. All cases with a P-P distance > 16 mm were high-type IAs and all cases with a P-P distance < 5 mm were low-type IAs.


CONCLUSIONS
Transperineal US is a good diagnostic modality for the identification of internal fistulas in cases of high-type IA and for defining the IA level.
Choi
Young-Hun
YH
Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
In-One
IO
Cheon
Jung-Eun
JE
Kim
Woo Sun
WS
Yeon
Kyung Mo
KM
D001006:Anus, Imperforate / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012003:Rectal Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging