Spinal ultrasound in cloacal exstrophy

AIM: To assess the diagnostic value of spinal ultrasound in cloacal exstrophy, a caudal malformation which is associated with spinal dysraphism, and to assess the prevalence of spinal dysraphism in cloacal exstrophy, MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten infants under 1 year old with cloacal exstrophy underwent spinal ultrasound at presentation. Three patients also had a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination. Ultrasound and MRI images were reviewed and correlated. RESULTS: Nine of 10 patients had no external signs of spinal dysraphism, One patient had a clinically apparent myelomeningocele. Five of 10 patients (50%) had spinal dysraphism on ultrasound: there were two patients with a low cord, two with tethered cords and a Lipoma, and one patient with tethering and a myelomeningocele, Thus, in four of these five patients spinal dysraphism was occult. In a small number of patients (n = 3) MRI was also performed - in these cases the MRI and ultrasound appearances correlated, however MRI was not performed in those patients in whom spinal ultrasound was normal, CONCLUSION: In three cases where spinal ultrasound detected occult dysraphism and MRI was performed, spinal ultrasound and MRI correlated. Advantages of spinal ultrasound include ease of examination, production of high quality multi-planar images and the facility for portable imaging at the bedside. Spinal ultrasound should be the first investigation in all babies with cloacal exstrophy to diagnose occult and non-occult spinal dysraphism. (C) 2001 The Royal College of Radiologists.