Kotaro Uemura1,2, Hiroaki Fukuzawa3,4, Keiichi Morita1,2, Yuichi Okata2, Makiko Yoshida5, Kosaku Maeda1,2. 1. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kobe Children's Hospital, Chuou-ku Minatojimaminami 1-6-7, Kobe, 650-0047, Japan. 2. Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kobe University School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan. 3. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kobe Children's Hospital, Chuou-ku Minatojimaminami 1-6-7, Kobe, 650-0047, Japan. fuku23192211@gmail.com. 4. Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kobe University School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan. fuku23192211@gmail.com. 5. Department of Pathology, Kobe Children's Hospital, Kobe, Japan.
Abstract
PURPOSE: In anorectal malformations (ARMs), the epithelium of the distal rectal end is not well described. We histomorphologically evaluated epithelial and ganglionic distribution in the distal rectal end of ARMs resected during anorectoplasty to assess similarities and differences with normal anal canal structure. METHODS: In this single-center retrospective study, specimens from 60 ARM patients (27 males, 33 females) treated between 2008 and 2019 were evaluated. RESULTS: Epithelium type and alignment sequence as well as ganglionic distribution were similar in the distal rectal end and in a normal anal canal. Stratified columnar epithelium (anal transitional zone, ATZ) was seen in 49/60 (81.7%) cases and in all ARM types, including the no-fistula type. Anal crypts were identified in the stratified columnar epithelium (ATZ) of 46/49 (93.9%) patients. Regarding distal rectal end-resecting anorectoplasty, in 90% of patients, resection was performed distal to the Herrmann line. Ganglion cell distribution was exclusively proximal to the Herrmann line. CONCLUSION: Epithelial and ganglionic distribution was similar in the distal rectal end of ARMs and in a normal anal canal. The ATZ is the epithelial boundary between the rectum and skin in a normal anal canal. ATZ preservation could reproduce anal canal structure in ARM reconstruction.
PURPOSE: In anorectal malformations (ARMs), the epithelium of the distal rectal end is not well described. We histomorphologically evaluated epithelial and ganglionic distribution in the distal rectal end of ARMs resected during anorectoplasty to assess similarities and differences with normal anal canal structure. METHODS: In this single-center retrospective study, specimens from 60 ARM patients (27 males, 33 females) treated between 2008 and 2019 were evaluated. RESULTS: Epithelium type and alignment sequence as well as ganglionic distribution were similar in the distal rectal end and in a normal anal canal. Stratified columnar epithelium (anal transitional zone, ATZ) was seen in 49/60 (81.7%) cases and in all ARM types, including the no-fistula type. Anal crypts were identified in the stratified columnar epithelium (ATZ) of 46/49 (93.9%) patients. Regarding distal rectal end-resecting anorectoplasty, in 90% of patients, resection was performed distal to the Herrmann line. Ganglion cell distribution was exclusively proximal to the Herrmann line. CONCLUSION: Epithelial and ganglionic distribution was similar in the distal rectal end of ARMs and in a normal anal canal. The ATZ is the epithelial boundary between the rectum and skin in a normal anal canal. ATZ preservation could reproduce anal canal structure in ARM reconstruction.
Authors: Alexander Holschneider; John Hutson; Albert Peña; Elhamy Beket; Subir Chatterjee; Arnold Coran; Michael Davies; Keith Georgeson; Jay Grosfeld; Devendra Gupta; Naomi Iwai; Dieter Kluth; Giuseppe Martucciello; Samuel Moore; Risto Rintala; E Durham Smith; D V Sripathi; Douglas Stephens; Sudipta Sen; Benno Ure; Sabine Grasshoff; Thomas Boemers; Feilin Murphy; Yunus Söylet; Martin Dübbers; Marc Kunst Journal: J Pediatr Surg Date: 2005-10 Impact factor: 2.545