Anterior Sacral Meningocele

• Published in: Applied radiology (1976) Vol. 53; no. 4; pp. 39 - 41
• Main Authors: Naqvi, Syed M.R, Asim, Syed Anam
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotch Plains Anderson Publishing Ltd 01.07.2024
• Subjects: Abnormalities; Communication; Computed tomography; Congenital anomalies; Congenital defects; Constipation; Cysts; Emergency medical services; Health aspects; Literature reviews; Magnetic resonance imaging; Nerves; Neural tube; Organs; Pain; Patients; Rectum; Regional development; Signs and symptoms; Spinal cord; Tethering; Ultrasonic imaging; Urinary tract infections; Viscera; Windsor Ontario Canada; Canada
• ISSN: 0160-9963; 1879-2898
• DOI: 10.1016/10.37549/AR-D-24-0008

Case Summary A toddler presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain. [...]sacral malformations leading to ASM are frequently associated with other congenital defects involving the urogenital or hindgut structures.1 Anterior sacral meningocele may be associated with Currarino syndrome, a triad of presacral mass (typically ASM or teratoma), anorectal malformation, and sacral bony defect.5 Patients commonly diagnosed with ASM include those with long-standing complaints of constipation, gynecological or obstetrical manifestations, and neonates who present with other congenital defects such as those seen in Currarino syndrome.6 The signs and symptoms associated with ASM are related to its impact on surrounding genitourinary organs (eg, dysuria, UTIs, polyuria, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia), reproductive organs (eg, dystocia and meningocele sac rupture), and colorectal (eg, constipation or obstipation) and neurological dysfunctions (eg, compression of the nerve roots exiting from the sacrococcygeal region leading to pelvic pain, radicular pain, and paresthesia).1,6 Compression of ASM from Valsalva maneuvers or postural changes can affect the CSF flow, resulting in headaches.2 The clinical signs associated with ASM include retro-rectal mass, which can be palpated on a digital rectal examination in nearly all patients.1 Patients may also present with other congenital anomalies such as vaginal duplication, anal stenosis, anal atresia, sacral bone defect (scimitar sign), club foot, and leg-length discrepancies.1 The diagnosis of ASM can involve the use of multiple modalities, including radiographs, US, CT, and MRI.1 Features that should be evaluated include the identification of the neck of the ASM, abnormalities of the meninges and vertebral components of the sacrum such as sacral defect; cystic nature of the mass; the relationship between the meningocele and the sacral nerve roots; and the relationship between the pelvic viscera and the meningocele.7 Radiography is useful in detecting the scimitar sign, which appears as a unilateral sickle-shaped distortion of the sacral bone.7 Ultrasound can help identify the contents of the presacral mass and enlargement of the meningocele sac.8 CT can help identify the communication of the subarachnoid space and may help differentiate ASM from other solid masses in the presacral location.9 The modality of choice to diagnose ASM is MRI.1 It can help identify other associated anomalies such as spinal cord tethering.1 Meningocele has the same signal intensity as the CSF and a thickened filum terminale, with or without fatty infiltration, may be present.1 The management of ASM is surgical, which involves obliteration of the communication between the meningocele and the subarachnoid space.1 Conclusion Anterior sacral meningocele most commonly results from a malformation in which the meninges protrude through a developmental osseous defect in the sacrum. Affiliations: Windsor Regional Hospital, Windsor, Ontario (Naqvi); Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Windsor, Ontario (Asim).