Postoperative Pelvic MRI of Anorectal Malformations

• Published in: American journal of roentgenology (1976) Vol. 191; no. 5; pp. 1469 - 1476
• Main Authors: Eltomey, Mohamed A, Donnelly, Lane F, Emery, Kathleen H, Levitt, Marc A, Pena, Alberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Reston, VA Am Roentgen Ray Soc 01.11.2008; American Roentgen Ray Society
• Subjects: Abnormalities, Multiple - diagnosis; Abnormalities, Multiple - surgery; Adolescent; Anal Canal - abnormalities; Anal Canal - pathology; Anal Canal - surgery; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Medical sciences; Pelvis - pathology; Pelvis - surgery; Postoperative Care - methods; Prognosis; Rectum - abnormalities; Rectum - pathology; Rectum - surgery; Postoperative; Nuclear medicine; Malformation; Radiology; Medical imagery; Anorectal; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging
• ISSN: 0361-803X; 1546-3141
• DOI: 10.2214/AJR.07.3773

Patients operated on for anorectal malformations can experience technical complications related to the initial corrective surgery. Many of these complications may necessitate reoperation. Pelvic MRI is part of the evaluation to assess the position of the pulled-through bowel, the sphincter muscles, and the critical area of the posterior urethra. This article reviews the various pelvic MRI findings in these patients. Pelvic MRI is a valuable tool in the assessment of postoperative anorectal malformations that may necessitate additional surgery.