Routine whole spine magnetic resonance imaging for patients with anorectal malformations

To evaluate the necessity of performing whole spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as opposed to solely lumbosacral MRI for detecting high-level spinal lesions (in the brain, cervical, or thoracic spine) in patients with anorectal malformations (ARM). This retrospective cohort study included 69 patients treated for ARM at a medical center between January 2011 and January 2022. Before March 2021, lumbosacral MRI was used for patients with ARM. Since March 2021, anomalies in the posterior cranial fossa and whole spine were assessed using routine MRI. Both male (n = 30, 43.4%) and female patients were included in the study. Out of the 69 patients, 19 (27.5%) underwent whole spine MRI, and 50 (72.5%) underwent lumbosacral MRI. In the whole spine group, 4 patients had anomalies beyond the lumbosacral area. In the lumbosacral group, 4 patients subsequently underwent whole spine MRI due to symptoms, with 3 revealing higher-level anomalies.High-level spinal and brain anomalies, although infrequent, are present in patients with ARM. The findings suggest considering routine whole spine MRI in screening ARM patients to avoid missing high-level anomalies.