Abstract
A 25-year-old nulliparous woman with adult onset constipation and slight anterior displacement of the anus underwent pelvic magnetic resonance imaging and was diagnosed with congenital hemiabsence of the levator ani sling. Impaired defecation was confirmed by anorectal function studies and defecography demonstrated an anterior rectocele, perineal descent at the upper limit of normal, and partial obstruction of defecation, which appeared related to the levator sling abnormality. To our knowledge, this combination of findings has not been previously described as a cause of adult onset constipation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hendren WH, Constipation caused by anterior location of the anus and its surgical correction. J Pediatr Surg 1978;13:505–12.
Leape LL, Ramenofsky ML. Anterior ectopic anus: a common cause of constipation in children J Pediatr Surg 1978;13:627–9.
Mezzacappa PM, Price AP, Haller JO, Kassner G, Hunsbrough R. MR and CT demonstration of levator sling in congenital anorectal anomalies. J Comput Assist Tomogr 1987;11:273–5.
Bartram CI, Turnbull GK, Lennard-Jones JE. Evacuation proctography: an investigation of rectal expulsion in 20 subjects without defecatory disturbance. Gastrointest Radiol 1988;13:72–80.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
About this article
Cite this article
Rex, D.K., Lappas, J.C. & Popp, B. Association of anterior ectopic anus and partial absence of levator musculature in a woman with impaired defecation. Dis Colon Rectum 33, 974–976 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02139109
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02139109