{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,8]],"date-time":"2026-05-08T16:13:39Z","timestamp":1778256819085,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"S. Karger AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,5]],"date-time":"2025-12-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1764892800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/karger.com\/pages\/terms-and-conditions"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,5]],"date-time":"2025-12-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1764892800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/karger.com\/pages\/terms-and-conditions"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Fetal Diagn Ther"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Introduction: Dilated colon or rectum on fetal imaging raises concern for underlying anorectal malformation (ARM) or Hirschsprung\u2019s disease (HD). Methods: We evaluated pregnant women referred to a dedicated fetal center between 2006 and 2024 for suspected fetal rectal\/colonic dilation. Findings by ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging were compared to neonatal outcomes. Those with a statistically significant association with postnatal distal bowel abnormality were identified by univariate analysis and used to formulate a risk score. Results: A total of 18\/47 (38.2%) patients had normal imaging. A total of 29\/47 (61.7%) demonstrated persistent \u201cprominence\u201d (15\/29) or \u201cdilation\u201d (14\/29) of the fetal colon\/rectum. Seven male fetuses with large bowel dilation\/prominence were diagnosed postnatally with an imperforate anus. None had HD. Compared to the no-ARM group, ARM patients were more likely to have earlier initial referral imaging; imaging noting persistent bowel dilation\/prominence; imaging with an abnormal amniotic fluid level, meconium signal, bowel echogenicity, or anal sphincter; enterolithiasis; or concern for VACTERL (all p \u2264 0.035). These 8 variables were used to create a risk score to diagnose ARM with 100% sensitivity and specificity in our cohort. Conclusion: Fetal imaging showing a dilated colon\/rectum is rarely pathologic. When targeted imaging does not reveal any features predictive of pathology, reassurance may be provided to families and providers.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1159\/000549791","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,5]],"date-time":"2025-12-05T17:03:08Z","timestamp":1764954188000},"page":"124-132","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Referral for Dilated Fetal Rectum: Rarely a Pathologic Entity"],"prefix":"10.1159","volume":"53","author":[{"given":"Emily M.","family":"Scire","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Judy A.","family":"Estroff","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Carol E.","family":"Barnewolt","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ryne A.","family":"Didier","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"David","family":"Zurakowski","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Terry L.","family":"Buchmiller","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"127","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/uog.3862"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpedsurg.2022.06.006"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13256-021-02921-3"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1053\/j.gastro.2003.10.012"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1055\/s-0037-1609020"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/pd.4595"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s40556-014-0014-y"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/uog.9083"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/uog.1832"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12887-021-03084-2"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12887-019-1510-y"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/(SICI)1097-0223(199603)16:3%3c203::AID-PD830%3e3.0.CO;2-#"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/pd.5203"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/pd.4472"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/jum.14836"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7863\/ultra.15.08056"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7863\/jum.2011.30.1.37"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/jcu.22426"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2214\/ajr.149.2.395"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1159\/000092470"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/bf00174438"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tjog.2023.07.018"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tjog.2023.08.004"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejrnm.2014.11.003"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0022-3468(92)90112-k"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.11604\/pamj.2014.19.198.4057"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1159\/000371742"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/s0022-3468(79)80146-3"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7863\/jum.1986.5.1.37"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/uog.26"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/jcu.20810"}],"container-title":["Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/karger.com\/article-pdf\/doi\/10.1159\/000549791","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,8]],"date-time":"2026-05-08T16:01:16Z","timestamp":1778256076000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/karger.com\/article\/doi\/10.1159\/000549791"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,5]]},"references-count":31,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,8]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,5]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1159\/000549791","archive":["Portico"],"relation":{},"ISSN":["1015-3837","1421-9964"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1015-3837","type":"print"},{"value":"1421-9964","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,5]]}}}