Perineal groove. Cases report and brief review

Abstract

Perineal groove is a congenital anal anomaly. This skin defect appears next to the anal opening, similar to a cleft, and is covered by a mucous membrane. The anomaly often occurs in girls. Grooves can be detected in patients with normally formed anus or as part of an anorectal malformation with a perineal fistula or anal stenosis. Perineal groove is a congenital anal anomaly. This work aimed to provide information for specialists about this congenital developmental anomaly. In our clinic, five girls were observed and diagnosed with perineal groove quite early in their lives (from one to three months of age). Only one required surgical treatment because she had an anorectal malformation with a perineal fistula. In one case, bougienage of the anus was prescribed because stenosis was detected in a timely manner. For the three girls with a normally formed anus, surgery or other types of treatment were not indicated. In other clinics, either long-term courses of conservative local therapy were prescribed for anal fissure or folds in the anus or a diagnosis of anorectal defect was made with indications for surgery. This study also analyzed current publications on the diagnosis and treatment of congenital perineal sulcus.