Diagnosis of Persistent Cloaca by Ultrasonography and MRI: A Case Report. 2020

Takakazu Kawamura, and Aki Kamo, and Tomizo Nishiguchi
Shizuoka Children's Hospital, Perinatal Medical Center, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka, Japan.

BACKGROUND Persistent cloacal malformations are rare anomalies that are anorectal malformations occurring in females. In cases of persistent cloaca, prenatal ultrasonography shows fetal ascites, cystic tumor in the abdomen, oligohydramnios, and hydronephrosis. There are various types of persistent cloaca, and symptoms vary. CASE REPORT A 38-year-old pregnant woman was referred to our hospital because of suspected fetal expansion of the intestinal tract. Prenatal ultrasonography revealed a fetal growth restriction, oligohydramnios, fetal abdominal cyst, and bilateral hydronephrosis, and persistent cloaca was suspected. Also, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a double uterus and bilateral hydronephrosis, hydrocolpos; as such, persistent cloaca was diagnosed. Cesarean section was performed at 36 weeks+3 days gestation and delivered a female infant weighing 1957 g, with Apgar scores of 9 (1 min)/9 (5 min). CONCLUSIONS We report a case of persistent cloaca detected in the prenatal ultrasonography and MRI examination. Prenatal diagnosis is important because it can lead to a better outcome for infants with persistent cloaca. In the image inspection in persistent cloaca, there are characteristic findings such as ascites, cystic tumor in the abdomen, difficulty in visualizing the bladder, oligohydramnios, and hydronephrosis. So, if persistent cloaca is suspected, use of ultrasonography and MRI will allow its diagnosis.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007231 Infant, Newborn An infant during the first 28 days after birth. Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D008279 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Non-invasive method of demonstrating internal anatomy based on the principle that atomic nuclei in a strong magnetic field absorb pulses of radiofrequency energy and emit them as radiowaves which can be reconstructed into computerized images. The concept includes proton spin tomographic techniques. Chemical Shift Imaging,MR Tomography,MRI Scans,MRI, Functional,Magnetic Resonance Image,Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Functional,Magnetization Transfer Contrast Imaging,NMR Imaging,NMR Tomography,Tomography, NMR,Tomography, Proton Spin,fMRI,Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging,Imaging, Chemical Shift,Proton Spin Tomography,Spin Echo Imaging,Steady-State Free Precession MRI,Tomography, MR,Zeugmatography,Chemical Shift Imagings,Echo Imaging, Spin,Echo Imagings, Spin,Functional MRI,Functional MRIs,Image, Magnetic Resonance,Imaging, Magnetic Resonance,Imaging, NMR,Imaging, Spin Echo,Imagings, Chemical Shift,Imagings, Spin Echo,MRI Scan,MRIs, Functional,Magnetic Resonance Images,Resonance Image, Magnetic,Scan, MRI,Scans, MRI,Shift Imaging, Chemical,Shift Imagings, Chemical,Spin Echo Imagings,Steady State Free Precession MRI
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011296 Prenatal Diagnosis Determination of the nature of a pathological condition or disease in the postimplantation EMBRYO; FETUS; or pregnant female before birth. Diagnosis, Prenatal,Fetal Diagnosis,Fetal Imaging,Fetal Screening,Intrauterine Diagnosis,Antenatal Diagnosis,Antenatal Screening,Diagnosis, Antenatal,Diagnosis, Intrauterine,Prenatal Screening,Antenatal Diagnoses,Antenatal Screenings,Diagnosis, Fetal,Fetal Diagnoses,Fetal Imagings,Fetal Screenings,Imaging, Fetal,Intrauterine Diagnoses,Prenatal Diagnoses,Prenatal Screenings,Screening, Antenatal,Screening, Fetal,Screening, Prenatal
D002988 Cloaca A dilated cavity extended caudally from the hindgut. In adult birds, reptiles, amphibians, and many fishes but few mammals, cloaca is a common chamber into which the digestive, urinary and reproductive tracts discharge their contents. In most mammals, cloaca gives rise to LARGE INTESTINE; URINARY BLADDER; and GENITALIA. Cloacas
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006869 Hydronephrosis Abnormal enlargement or swelling of a KIDNEY due to dilation of the KIDNEY CALICES and the KIDNEY PELVIS. It is often associated with obstruction of the URETER or chronic kidney diseases that prevents normal drainage of urine into the URINARY BLADDER. Hydronephroses
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D014599 Uterus The hollow thick-walled muscular organ in the female PELVIS. It consists of the fundus which is the site of EMBRYO IMPLANTATION and FETAL DEVELOPMENT. Beyond the isthmus at the perineal end of fundus, is CERVIX UTERI (the neck) opening into VAGINA. Beyond the isthmi at the upper abdominal end of fundus, are the FALLOPIAN TUBES. Fundus Uteri,Uteri,Uterine Cornua,Uterine Fundus,Uterus Cornua,Womb,Cornua, Uterine,Fundus Uterus,Fundus, Uterine,Uteri, Fundus,Wombs

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