Approaches to Female Congenital Genital Tract Anomalies and Complications

Abstract

Objective: Female congenital genital tract anomalies may appear with quite confusing and deceptive complications. This study aims to evaluate the difficulties in diagnosis and treatment of female congenital genital tract anomalies that frequently present with complications.

Summary: During a 10-year period, we evaluated 20 female patients with congenital genital tract anomalies aged between 3 days and 16 years. All patients were retrospectively analyzed in terms of the results of diagnostic studies, surgical intervention, and treatment.

Methods: Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed hydromucocolpos or hematocolpometra, imperforate hymen, distal vaginal atresia, didelphys uterus, an obstructed right hemivagina, uterovaginal atresia, a unicornuate uterus with a noncommunicating rudimentary horn, a vesicovaginal fistula, a utero-rectal fistula, intraabdominal collection, and a vaginal calculus.

Results: Two patients had Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome and 6 patients had obstructed hemivagina and ipsilateral renal anomaly syndrome. Definitive surgical interventions were hymenotomy, vaginal pull-through, vaginovaginostomy, and vesico-vaginal fistula repair using a transvesical approach. In conclusion, female congenital genital tract anomalies may appear with a wide range of complications.

Conclusions: There is a potential to do significant harm, if the patient's anatomic problems are not understood using detailed imaging. Revealing the anatomy completely and defining the complications that have already developed are critical to tailor the optimal treatment strategies and surgical approaches.