1. To gain an awareness of the spectrum of cloacal malformations.
2. Understand and identify the key features which differentiate each component of the cloacal malformation spectrum.
3. To describe the key images necessary for proper diagnosis.
4. To briefly describe a differential diagnosis.
Cloacal malformations are a spectrum of anatomical pelvic malformations resulting from failure of c loacal division in early embryogenesis. Depending on the timing of the developmental arrest, a spectrum of abnormalities result, which range from urogenital sinus to cloacal dysgenesis. With the level of detail currently provided by fetal MRI, the spectrum of cloacal abnormalities can be confidently distinguished prenatally in order to guide postnatal therapy.
The below subsets of cloacal malformations will be presented, including the key imaging findings:
1. Urogenital sinus
2. Posterior cloaca variant
3. Persistent/classic cloaca
4. Cloacal dysgenesis
Dannull, K,
The Spectrum of Cloacal Malformations; How to Differentiate Each Entity Prenatally with Fetal MRI. Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL.
http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14001120.html
