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.

MATERIALS AND 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.

CONCLUSION: 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.