CONGENITAL CERVICAL ATRESIA - REPORT OF 7 CASES AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to evaluate the clinical course and management of congenital cervical atresia. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective analy sis included 7 patients referred to our clinic and a review of the med ical literature. RESULTS: Including this case series, 58 cases of cong enital cervical atresia have been reported in the literature. Forty-ei ght percent of patients had isolated congenital cervical atresia with a normal vagina whereas the remainder had either complete or partial v aginal atresia (''shortened blind vaginal pouches''). Surgical managem ent has included abdominal hysterectomy or uterovaginal cannulation wi th or without vaginoplasty. In 59% of patients who underwent uterovagi nal canalization procedures (23/39), normal menstrual bleeding was ach ieved. Four of these patients subsequently became pregnant and were de livered at term. CONCLUSION: Surgical canalization in selected patient s with congenital cervical atresia can be successfully performed to pr ovide patients an opportunity for conservative management, resulting i n normal menstrual bleeding, resolution of cyclic pelvic pain, and som e potential (albeit limited) for fertility.