MAGNETIC RESONANCE EVALUATION OF ANORECTAL MALFORMATION CASES TREATED BY POSTERIOR SAGITTAL ANORECTOPLASTY
Dipu Bhuyan1, Sushant Agarwal2, Pynskhemboklang Khongsi3, Aswin Padmanabhan4
1. Associate Professor, Department of Radiology, Gauhati Medical College & Hospital, Gawahati.
2. Post Graduate Student, Department of Radiology, Gauhati Medical College & Hospital, Gawahati.
3. Senior Resident, Department of Paediatrics Surgery, Gauhati Medical College & Hospital, Gawahati.
4. Post Graduate Student, Department of Radiology, Gauhati Medical College & Hospital, Gawahati.
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Dr. Dipu Bhuyan,
Email : dipubhuyan@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:
Dr. Dipu Bhuyan,
Associate Professor,
Department of Radiology,
Gauhati Medical College & Hospital,
Gawahati-32.
E-mail: dipubhuyan@gmail.com
ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES: Pelvic MRI is a useful tool for assessing patients with anorectal malformations before and after operation. The images obtained after PSARP can be reviewed for quality and shape of the sphincter muscle, position of the rectum, shape of the sacrum, and associated pelvic abnormalities related to the initial operation. These were then correlated with the clinical status of the patient during follow-up after colostomy closure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: twenty six male patients with intermediate or high anorectal malformation were included in the study between January 2012 to December 2013. The findings thus obtained in the MRI were correlated clinically with the Kelley’s scoring system. RESULTS: A total of 26 post-PSARP patients were included in the study. Eighteen of them were also selected for clinical correlation after colostomy closure. According to MRI findings, 2 patients had good degree of development of the pelvic floor muscles, 11 of them had fair amount of muscles and the rest 13 of them had significantly thinned out muscles. Four patients showed well-developed external sphincter muscle, 15 of them were having fair degree of development and in the rest 7 of them it was poorly-developed. Our study also showed that only 3 patients were showing symmetrical development of the sphincter complex whereas in the rest 23 of them it was asymmetrical. Eighteen patients had centrally-placed pulled-through rectum, whereas in the rest 8 of them the colon was located away from the center of the sphincter complex. Sixteen patients had mesenteric fat inadvertently pulled along with the bowel during PSARP; and in this same study, 58% of our patients were also having associated anomalies detected by MRI. On clinical correlation, it was found that external sphincter muscle and fat interposition play an important role in the overall clinical status of the patients after colostomy closure. CONCLUSION: Pelvic MRI is a useful tool for assessment of anorectal malformation after PSARP. Our study shows that development of the external sphincter muscle and the presence of mesenteric fat interposition has significant impact on the overall clinical status of the patient; however, other factors like operative technique and muscle innervations may also play important role in the overall continence of the patients.
KEYWORDS: Anorectal malformation, MRI.
ABBREVIATIONS:
ARM - Anorectal malformation.
MRI - Magnetic resonance imaging.
CT - Computerized Tomography.
INTRODUCTION: Anorectal malformations encompass a diverse group of congenital malformations of the anorectum and they are frequently associated with other anomalies. Incidence is one in 5000 livebirths.1
The goals of surgical correction are to promote anatomic reconstruction, establish socially acceptable bowel function, and avoid undesirable sequelae such as fecal incontinence, urinary incontinence, and sexual dysfunction. However, with much advancement in the management of ARM, still many patients come back with many functional and technical complications.
Pelvic MRI is a useful tool for assessment of ARM before and after the initial repair. It has advantages over CT because of its multiplanar imaging facility and lack of ionizing radiation for infants and small children.2,3 It is superior to CT in identifying the sphincteric muscles due to its excellent soft tissue characterization.4
METHODS: A prospective study of twenty six male patients with high or intermediate type ARM and who had already undergone PSARP were included in the study between January 2012 to December 2013. Informed consent was taken from the parents of all the patients and permission for conducting the study was taken from the Institutional Ethical Committee. Exclusion criteria are: male patients with low ARM, female patients, and patients in whom PSARP have not been done. All these patients were operated upon by 5 different surgeons; 4 of them used the conventional technique of PSARP as advocated by Pena, whereas one surgeon did some modification by not cutting the vertical muscle complex and anoplasty was done with moderate tension, thereby allowing a skin-lined anal canal. All the patients underwent MRI study to evaluate their pelvic musculature. Location of the pulled-though rectum, and fat interposition were noted, and any associated anomalies which may directly or indirectly affect the outcome were also included. The MRI images were interpreted by a single radiologist without any knowledge of the clinical information. Eighteen patients had also completed colostomy closure and they were on follow-up; these were the patients selected for clinical correlation with the MRI findings, using the Kelley’s Clinical Scoring system. The Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis of our findings.
RESULTS: Age of the patients ranged from 4 months to 16 years. Twenty four patients had high type whereas the other 2 of them had intermediate type of anomalies. According to MRI analysis of all these patients, 2 demonstrated good degree of development of the pelvic floor muscles; other 11 of them had fair amount of muscles, and the rest 13 had significantly thinned out or poorly developed muscles. Clinically, however, there was no significant change statistically. On the other hand, there was significant overlap of patients with fair or lax pelvic floor muscles with those in group 1 (Clinically good) and 2 (Clinically fair). Four patients were showing well-developed external sphincter; another 15 of them were having fair degree of development, whereas in the rest 7 of them the external sphincter was thinned out or poorly developed. On clinical correlation, it was found that the development of the external sphincter had a significant impact (p=0. 027) on the clinical outcome of the patients during follow-up. In this same study, only 3 patients were showing symmetry of the sphincter complex, whereas in the rest 23 of them MRI showed asymmetrical development of this muscle.
However, this had no significant relevance on the clinical outcome of the patients. Eighteen patients had centrally-placed pulled-through rectum, whereas in 8 of them the colon was located away from the center of the sphincter complex. This also was found to have no significant effect on the clinical picture of the patients overall. Sixteen patients had mesenteric fat pulled along with the bowel during PSARP, whereas in 10 of them there was no inadvertently pulled mesenteric fat detected on MRI. On statistical analysis it appeared that the presence of mesenteric fat pulled with bowel through the sphincter during the initial repair interfered with the continence mechanism of the patient later on during follow-up after colostomy closure (p = 0. 042). In addition, MRI could also detect that 58% of the patients with ARM were also having other associated anomalies, and genitourinary anomalies alone were seen in 53% of these cases. Four patients (26. 6%) were also found to have abnormalities of the spine and spinal cord.
STATISTICS:
Type of ARM
Vaild |
26 |
Missing |
0 |
Type of AMR
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Vaild Percent |
Cumulative |
High |
24 |
92. 3 |
92. 3 |
92. 3 |
Intermediate |
2 |
707 |
7. 7 |
100. 0 |
Total |
26 |
100. 0 |
100. 0 |
|
Table 1: Showing distribution of case according to type |
TYPE OF AARM
Fig. 1: Bar diagram showing distribution of case according to type
RELIGION: In the present Study, Out of the 26 case that ware including for our study 12 (46. 2%) ware from Hindu community, the other 13 case (50%) belonged to a Muslim community, and the rest i. e. 1 case (3. 8%) ware a Christian.
Religion |
|||||
|
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Vaild Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Vaild |
Hindu |
12 |
46. 2 |
46. 2 |
46. 2 |
Muslim |
13 |
50. 0 |
50. 0 |
96. 2 |
|
Christian |
1 |
3. 8 |
3. 8 |
100. 0 |
|
Total |
26 |
100. 0 |
100. 0 |
|
|
Table 2: Showing distribution of according to religion |
Effect of development of pelvic floor muscle complex in relation to clinical findings of the patients.
Fig. 2: Pie chart showing case distribution in this study according to religion
Development of pelvic floor muscle
|
Clinical assessment |
|||
Good |
Fair |
Poor |
Active Margin |
|
Good Fair Poor Active Margin |
2 5 1 8 |
0 4 4 8 |
0 0 2 2 |
2 9 7 18 |
Table 3: Showing correlation of pelvic floor muscle development with clinical status of the patients |
SUMMARY:
Dimension |
Singular value |
Inertia |
Chi-square |
p-value |
Proportion Inertia |
Confidence Singular Value |
||
Accounted for |
Cumulative |
Standard Deviation |
Correlation |
|||||
2 |
||||||||
1 2 Total |
. 604 . 208 |
. 635 . 043 . 409 |
7. 357 |
. 118 a |
. 894 . 106 1. 000 |
. 894 1. 000 1. 000 |
. 140 . 125 |
-. 171 |
- 4 degrees of freedom.
Row and Column Points.
Symmetrical Normalization.
Fig. 3: Scatter diagram showing the clinical finding and correlation with the grading of the pelvic floor muscle
Development of the external sphincter and its effect on the clinical finding of the patients:
Correspondence Table:
Development of ext. sphincter |
Good |
Fair |
Poor |
Active Margin |
Good |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
Fair |
5 |
4 |
0 |
9 |
Poor |
0 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
Active |
8 |
8 |
2 |
18 |
Table 4: Showing relation of the development of external sphincter with the clinical statues of the patients |
SUMMARY:
Dimension |
Singular value |
Inertia |
Chi-square |
p-value |
Proportion Inertia |
Confidence Singular Value |
||
Accounted for |
Cumulative |
Standard Deviation |
Correlation |
|||||
2 |
||||||||
1 2 Total |
. 749 . 222 |
. 562 . 049 . 611 |
11. 000 |
027 |
. 919 . 081 1. 000 |
. 919 1. 000 1. 000 |
. 072 . 125 |
-. 102 |
- 4 degrees of freedom
Chi-square – 11. 00
Degree of freedom – 4.
p- value – 0. 027.
Row and Column Points.
Symmetrical Normalization.
Fig. 4: Scatter diagram showing the clinical finding and the correlation the grading of the external sphincter
The impact of the symmetry of the sphincter complex on the clinical picture of the patients:
Correspondence Table.
Symmetry of sphincter complex |
Clinical assessment |
|||
Good |
Fair |
Poor |
Active margin |
|
Symmetric |
1 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
Asymmetric |
7 |
6 |
2 |
15 |
Active Margin |
8 |
8 |
2 |
18 |
Table 5: Symmetry of sphincter complex and its relation with clinical assessment |
SUMMARY:
Dimension |
Singular Value |
Intria |
Chi- value |
p- value |
Proportion of Inertia |
Confidence Singular Value |
|
|
Accounted for |
Cumulative |
Standard deviation |
||||
1 Total |
. 224 |
. 050 . 050 |
. 900 |
. 638a |
1. 000 1. 000 |
1. 000 1. 000 |
. 179 |
- a. 2 degrees of freedom.
Chi – square of freedom = 2.
Degree of freedom = 2.
p- value = 0. 638.
Position of the pulled -through rectum and its clinical relationship. Correspondence Table.
Position of pulled- through rectum |
Clinical assessment |
|||
Good |
Fair |
Poor |
Active margin |
|
Central |
7 |
4 |
1 |
12 |
Eccentric |
1 |
4 |
1 |
6 |
Active Margin |
8 |
8 |
2 |
18 |
Table. 6: position of the pull-though rectum and correlation with the clinical assessment |
SUMMARY:
Dimension |
Singular Value |
Intria |
Chi- value |
p- value |
Proportion of Inertia |
Confidence Singular Value |
|
|
Accounted for |
Cumulative |
Standard deviation |
||||
1 Total |
. 395 |
. 156 . 156 |
2. 813 |
. 245a |
1. 000 1. 000 |
1. 000 1. 000 |
. 199 |
- 2 degrees of freedom.
Chi –square test = 2. 813
Degree of freedom = 2
p- value = 0245
Presence or absence of the mesenteric fat its effect on the clinical status of the patients after definitive surgery:
Correspondence Table:
Mesenteric fat |
Clinical assessment |
|||
Good |
Fair |
Poor |
Active margin |
|
Present |
2 |
7 |
1 |
10 |
Absent |
6 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
Active Margin |
8 |
8 |
2 |
18 |
Table 7: presence of mesenteric fat its relation with the clinical outcome Summary |
Dimension |
Singular Value |
Intria |
Chi- value |
p- value |
Proportion of Inertia |
Confidence Singular Value |
|
|
Accounted for |
Cumulative |
Standard deviation |
||||
1 Total |
. 594 |
. 353 . 353 |
6. 356 |
. 042a |
1. 000 1. 000 |
1. 000 1. 000 |
181 |
- 2 degree of freedom.
Chi –square test -6. 356.
Degree of freedom = 2.
p- value = 0. 042.
Other incidental finding detected by MRI in our anorectal malformation case:
Case 1: Testes in inguinal region on both sides.
Case 2: Diverticulum on the posterior inferior aspect of the bladder wall.
Small nodules on the left pararectal, ischiorectal, and ischoanal fossa.
Case 5: Posterior urethral diverticulum. Filar lipoma.
Case 7: Lower segment of coccyx and sacrum are not formed.
Case 9: Nodular lesions in left pararectal, ischioanal, and ischiorectal fossa.
Case 10: Nodular lesion in the left pararectal, ischionanal, and ischiorectal fossa.
Case11: Testes in inguinal region bilaterally.
Case14: Utricle cyst.
Case15: Nodular lesions in left pararectal ischiorectal, and ischioanal fossa.
Case 18: Nodular lesion in left pararectal, ischiorectal, ischioanal fossa.
Case 20: Right testis in inguinal region.
Nodular lesion in left pararectal, ischiorectal and ishioanal fossa.
Case 21: L3 hemivertebra.
Case 22: Left testis in inguinal region.
Case 23: Left hydrouretronephosis.
Case 24: S4, S5, and coccyx are not visualized.
Fig. 1(a) (b)
Prominent pararectal, internal iliac, eternal, iliac, and bilateral inguinal nodes.
Prominent pararectal, internal iliac, external iliac, and bilateral inguinal nodes.
Fig. 1(c)
Fig. 2
Fig. 3 (a & b)
Fig. 4 (a & b)
DISCUSSION: Bowel control implies the ability to detect and retain flatus and stool until the appropriate time for evacuation. It is the result of complex interplay among sphincter function, anorectal sensation, and colonic motility. All these factors are affected in children with anorectal malformations.
The pelvic floor is a complex, integrated, multilayer system that provides active and passive support. Fascia and ligaments provide passive support, while the muscles of the pelvic floor, mainly the levator ani, provide active support. The pubo rectalis muscle has been considered the essential muscle for continence, and adequate placement of the neorectum in the puborectalis sling has been emphasized in the surgical literature.5 Recently, the important contribution of the external anal sphincter for continence, has been stressed.6,7 Adequate placement of the neorectum not only through the puborectalis sling but also within the external sphincter is necessary for an adequate functional outcome after surgical correction of anorectal anomalies.4
Several reports have assessed the efficacy of CT and MRI in evaluating anorectal malformation.8,9,10,11 MRI with axial and coronal imaging has allowed direct visualization of the sphincter muscle complex with excellent anatomic detail due to its excellent soft tissue characterization. MRI has other advantages over CT because of its multiplanar imaging facility and lack of ionizing radiation for infants and small children.
Some previous studies have used the measurement of the thickness of the sphincteric muscles. However, muscle thickness changes according to the patient’s age.10,11 Fukuya T et al4 evaluated the role of muscle development for continence. Their results showed significant overlap between clinically continent and incontinent patients; and they concluded that grading based solely on the degree of the development of muscles can thus be misleading unless there are markedly hypoplastic muscles.
The present study indicates that there was no significant difference in development of the pelvic floor muscles on clinical correlation with patients in group 1 and 2, with most of them were either fairly or poorly-developed, and only 2 of the patients in group 1 had well-developed muscles. Group3 patients however, were both showing poorly-developed muscles on MRI.
In the study by Shah AA et al,12 in patients with high anomaly, the external sphincter development was better than development of the levator and sphincter muscle complex. Therefore, with proper placement of rectum, many of them were able to achieve acceptable continence, thus emphasizing that even patients with high malformation can have good external sphincter with good prospects of continence. Similarly, our study also supports this finding and showed that external sphincter has got significant contribution on the clinical outcome of the patients in terms of continence.
Malpositioning of the rectal pull-through can be identified on axial, coronal, and sagittal images of the MRI scan. The importance of siting the pulled-through rectum accurately and symmetrically in the sphincter ani at primary operation is stressed, as fecal incontinence can occur with asymmetrical placement. In contrast to many studies, 13 our finding showed 33. 3% of the patients had their pulled-through rectum sited away from the center, but analysis showed that this does not have significant impact on the outcome of the patients clinically. Presence of peritoneal fat inadvertently pulled along with the rectum was shown to play significant contribution on the continence mechanism of the patients after PSARP. This finding is also supported by other studies done by Yong C et al and others.12,14
However, there are several factors that may be related to continence: passive forces; motor action of the sphincter; sensitivity of the skin, mucosa, and sphincter; function of the intestine; and nervous system pathways such as innervation of the muscles. These factors and in fact, the technique of operation have got significant contribution on the fecal continence of the patients. This statement supports our findings on some of our patients in whom modified technique of PSARP was done. In these cases, the vertical muscle complex was not cut and pull-through of the bowel was done with moderate tension; hence there was less disturbance to the muscle innervations and the sphincteric complex was not divided, and anoplasty was done under some tension, therefore allowing a skin-lined anal canal. Most of these patients are showing better clinical outcome. This finding however, will need better randomization with more number of cases and a longer follow-up to support our observations.
CONCLUSION: Pelvic MRI is a useful tool for assessment of anorectal malformation before and after PSARP. It has several advantages because of its multiplanar imaging facility and lack of ionizing radiation especially for small infants and small children. Because of its excellent soft tissue characterization, it allows identification of the sphincteric muscles accurately. This study indicates that there was significant overlap in the clinical outcome of the patients when correlated with the degree of development of the pelvic floor muscles. Similarly, the location of the pulled-through rectum within the levator ani sling and the symmetry of the sphincteric complex does not appear to play significant role on the outcome. However, the development of the external sphincter and the presence of inadvertently pulled mesenteric fat appears to have significant contribution on the overall clinical outcome of the patients. Our observation that some of our patients who underwent modified PSARP showed better outcome may be attributed to other factors affecting continence such as the technique of operation and muscle innervations in the already compromised and maldeveloped pelvic musculature.
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Fig. 1(a) (b)