Anal canal duplication in children: a monocentric experience of 12 cases

Anal Canal Duplication in a 25-Year-Old Female Patient

Anal canal duplication (ACD) is a congenital malformation that typically presents and is diagnosed early in life. It can be associated with other syndromes or congenital malformations. ACD is one of the rarest duplications of the gastrointestinal tract, with no more than 90 to 100 cases reported in the literature. It can be confused with more frequent pathologies such as perianal fistula, especially when it occurs in adulthood. We present the case of a 25-year-old female patient who presents with a second orifice above the native anal orifice. An arthroscopic examination was performed, an incidental diagnosis of ACD was made, and a complete excision of the duplicated anal canal was performed. The aim of the study is to expand the information on this rare pathology in order to take it into account as a differential diagnosis in patients with abscesses, recurrent fistulous tracts, or any other anorectal pathology.

Anal Canal Duplication Mimicking Recurrent Abscess: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Background

Anal canal duplication (ACD) is a very rare duplication of the gastrointestinal tract and is described as a secondary anal orifice along the posterior side of the normal anal canal. Early surgical removal is advisable, also in asymptomatic patients, because of the risk of inflammatory complications, such as recurrent crissum abscess, and malignant changes.

Case presentation

A previously healthy 2-year-old boy was evaluated in the emergency department with fever. He complained of anal pain in the absence of incentive. Physical examination and ultrasound confirmed a diagnosis of perianal abscess. He was treated with incision and drainage of the abscess and intravenous antibiotics. Two months after his discharge from the hospital, he developed fever and had intervals discharge pus and pain in the same locations. Colorectal endoscopy revealed that there was no fistula opening at the rectal wall. Intraoperative fistulography showed a fistulous tract that was connected to a subcutaneous cavity. Excision of the fistulous tract and wide drainage of the deep postanal space were performed. The patient was referred to our hospital for further evaluation 6 months later. Physical examination showed a secondary anus that had not been noticed before. MRI showed an anal fistula between 1 and 3 o’clock, and preoperative fistulography revealed a 3-cm-long tubular structure without any connection with the rectum. The diagnosis of ACD was made by intraoperative examination with a metal catheter and the postoperative pathological analysis. The duplicated anal canal was resected completely via a perianal approach without any rectal injury. Histology showed a squamous epithelium in the distal end with some smooth-muscle fibers. After a follow-up of 8 months, the patient has been doing well.

Conclusion

Recurrent crissum abscess should raise clinical attention to alimentary tract congenital malformations such as ACD. Prompt recognition of these unique presentations of ACD is needed, and complete excision through a perineal approach or posterior sagittal approach is recommended.

Case Report: Anal canal duplication associated with anorectal stenosis-A rare presentation

Anal canal duplication is a rare gastrointestinal malformation characterized by extra anal orifices at 6 o'clock in the lithotomy position. To date, there have been only 110 reported cases. The purpose of this study is to contribute two infant cases, one of which is associated with anorectal stenosis, which has never been described.