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Anogenital Distance and Perineal Measurements of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) Quantification System
Published on: September 20, 2018
[Prenatal diagnosis of pelvic floor malformations]
Carmelo Romeo1, Francesco Arena, Pietro Impellizzeri
1Dipartimento di Scienze Pediatriche Mediche e Chirurgiche, Università degli Studi di Messina.
Insights
Congenital pelvic floor malformations, including anorectal and cloacal anomalies, can be detected prenatally. Early diagnosis aids parental counseling and post-natal care for these complex conditions.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Medical imaging
- Pediatric surgery
Background:
- Pelvic floor malformations are congenital defects impacting the pelvic and perineal regions.
- These anomalies stem from improper development of embryonic structures like the cloaca membrane and urogenital sinus.
- Such complex conditions significantly affect parents emotionally, necessitating comprehensive support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current criteria for prenatal diagnosis of specific pelvic floor malformations.
- To highlight the importance of prenatal diagnosis for parental counseling and management planning.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature and diagnostic criteria for prenatal detection.
- Focus on imaging techniques and characteristic findings for various malformations.
Main Results:
- Prenatal diagnosis is feasible for conditions such as anorectal anomalies, cloacal anomalies, urogenital sinus persistence, bladder exstrophy, cloacal exstrophy, and ambiguous genitalia.
- Established criteria facilitate early identification of these complex congenital defects.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal diagnosis of pelvic floor malformations is crucial for informed parental counseling.
- Early detection enables timely postnatal evaluation and management, improving outcomes for affected infants.
Abstract:
Pelvic floor malformations are congenital defects in the pelvic and perineal area, which are derived from a defective development of the cloaca membrane, the uro-rectal septum, the mesonephric and para-mesonephric ducts and the urogenital sinus. These are complex anomalies with a profound emotional impact on parents. The prenatal diagnosis is possible favoring the prenatal counseling for the parents and expediting the post-natal evaluation and management. Aim of the present paper is to review the current criteria for the prenatal diagnosis of the following malformations: anorectal anomalies, cloacal anomalies, persistence of the urogenital sinus, bladder and cloacal exstrophy and ambiguous genitalia.
