CONGENITAL URETHROPERINEAL FISTULA

PURPOSE: To characterize the radiographic appearances of congenital ur ethroperineal fistula and to distinguish it from urethral duplication of the hypospadiac type. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors examined f our patients with congenital urethroperineal fistula in whom radiograp hic examinations were performed to define the pathologic anatomy. RESU LTS: Congenital urethroperineal fistula mimics the hypospadiac form of urethral duplication, except the normally positioned dorsal channel i s the normal urethra. Patients with congenital urethroperineal fistula have normal micturition. Both a normal dorsal penile urethra and a ve ntral urethroperineal fistula can be observed during radiographic and cystoscopic examination. The dorsal urethra is the functionally normal channel. Excision of the ventral channel is simple and curative. This contrasts starkly with congenital urethral duplication of the hypospa diac type, where excision of the ventral channel may be catastrophic. CONCLUSION: Although it resembles the hypospadiac form of urethral dup lication, congenital urethroperineal fistula should be classified as a separate entity.