Cloaca in Discordant Monoamniotic Twins: Prenatal Diagnosis and Consequence for Fetal Lung Development

Abstract

Objective Describe a case of cloaca prenatally diagnosed in one of a set of monoamniotic twins.

Study Design Retrospective review of a case.

Results Cloaca is one of the most complex and severe degrees of anorectal malformations in girls. We present a discordant cloaca in monoamniotic twins. Fetal ultrasound showed a female fetus with a pelvic midline cystic mass, a phallus-like structure, a probable anorectal atresia with absence of anal dimple and a flat perineum, and renal anomalies. The diagnosis was confirmed by fetal magnetic resonance imaging postnatally.

Conclusions The rarity of the malformation in a monoamniotic pregnancy, the difficulties of prenatal diagnosis, the pathogenic assumptions, and the consequences of adequate amniotic fluid for fetal lung development are discussed.

Keywords

prenatal diagnosis - persistent cloaca - monoamniotic twins - fetal lung development - discordant

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