Correlation between Common Channel Length and Urethral Length in Cloacal Malformations

Introduction This research aimed to study the relationship between common channel length and urethral length in cloaca patients by different diagnostic modalities and the ability of common channel length to predict the urethral length. Materials and Methods The study was conducted on 30 cases of cloaca managed at Alexandria University Children Hospital and Cairo University Children Hospital from August 2018 to December 2019. Preoperative assessment included cystovaginoscopy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies with a recording of common channel length and urethral length by each modality. Results There is substantial similarity between MRI and cystoscopy in measuring common channel length; 11 patients had common channel length 1 to 3 cm by cystoscopy. It is the same number by MRI measurement. Nineteen patients had common channel length 3 to 5 cm by cystoscopy and MRI. In total, 16 had urethral length <1.5 cm by MRI, while 14 patients with urethral length <1.5 cm by cystoscopy. However, there is a moderate negative correlation by MRI between common channel length and urethral length, while by cystovaginoscope, there is no significant correlation between common channel length and urethral length. Conclusion Applying MRI or cystoscopy in the preoperative assessment of cloaca cases is equivalent to measuring common channel length, not measuring urethral length. Besides that, the common channel length cannot predict the urethral length.