ArticleGastro hep advances2025
Advancing Understanding of Anorectal Malformations Through Microfocus Computed Tomography Imaging of Resected Material.
Article in Gastro hep advances, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- High-resolution 3D micro-CT reveals an additional muscle layer in esophageal atresia.Esophagus : official journal of the Japan Esophageal Society · 2026Article
- Innervation of the anal canal revisited through micro-CT imaging.Journal of anatomy · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background and Aims: Patients born with anorectal malformations (ARMs) might experience constipation and fecal incontinence. During ARM surgery (anterior and posterior sagittal anorectoplasty procedure), the distal part of the bowel (fistula) is usually resected. Microfocus computed tomography (micro-CT) imaging, capable of imaging samples in ultra-high 3-dimensional resolution, can be used to learn from this resected material. Through this technique, we aim to investigate whether or not structures, such as the internal anal sphincter (IAS), are present within this fistula. Methods: Pediatric patients undergoing surgical reconstruction for ARM were eligible for inclusion. Resected fistulas were fixed using 4% paraformaldehyde and stained with 3.75% B-Lugol for 48 hours to improve soft tissue contrast. Scans were performed on a Phoenix Nanotom micro-CT with a voxel size between 4-6 μm. Samples were destained for subsequent histopathological examination. Outcomes were presence of structures like the IAS, epithelial transition zone and ganglia. ARM fistulas were compared with a fetal anal canal sample derived from the Dutch Fetal Biobank. Results: Eleven ARM fistulas were analyzed. All samples showed evidence of normal development of the rectal wall. Columnar epithelium and stratified squamous epithelium were observed. Muscle fibers were present, arranged in circular pattern that expanded toward the distal end, becoming the intrinsic sphincter (IAS). Ganglia were present with normal appearance. Conclusion: We present micro-CT imaging to research resected material to provide new insights in microscale anatomy. The fistula, currently resected during surgical reconstruction for ARM, contains vital structures like the IAS, normal epithelial transition zone and normal ganglion cells. Although clinical functionality should be studied in the future, our results indicate that the fistula has a normal anal canal morphology and should be spared during ARM reconstruction if possible.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.