Fetal bowel calcifications: a sign of anal atresia with rectourethral fistula
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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

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Published on: December 16, 2022
Nizar Khatib1, Ron Belossesky, Odeh Marwan
1Department of Ob-Gyn, Rambam Health care Campus, POB 9602, Haifa, 31096, Israel.
Abstract:
Fetal bowel calcifications were observed at 24 weeks of gestation in a male fetus, suggesting an anorectal malformation (ARM) with rectourethral fistula. At birth, the newborn presented with complex ARM including anal atresia, rectourethral fistula, and esophageal atresia. The prenatal sonographic visualization of calcifications within distended bowel should raise the suspicion of ARM including anal atresia and rectourethral fistula, the presence of such calcification depending on the timing of onset of fistula formation.
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