Prenatal diagnosis of pelvic floor malformations

Pelvic floor malformations are congenital defects in the pelvic and perineal area, which are derived from a defective development of the cloaca membrane, the uro-rectal septum, the mesonephric and para-mesonephric ducts and the urogenital sinus. These are complex anomalies with a profound emotional impact on parents. The prenatal diagnosis is possible favoring the prenatal counseling for the parents and expediting the post-natal evaluation and management. Aim of the present paper is to review the current criteria for the prenatal diagnosis of the following malformations: anorectal anomalies, cloacal anomalies, persistence of the urogenital sinus, bladder and cloacal exstrophy and ambiguous genitalia.