Delayed diagnosis of congenital anal stenosis.

Congenital abnormalities of the anus are easily detected. Nevertheless the diagnosis is sometimes missed, with serious consequences for the child. Between 1970 and the end of 1977, 11 children with minor congenital anal abnormalities, in whom the diagnosis was initially missed, were seen on one surgical firm at this hospital (Table 1). After diagnosis and initial treatment intravenous urography was performed on each child; bilateral hydronephrosis and hydroureter due to posterior urethral valves were present in one patient (Case 11). The urograms were normal in all the others.