Duplication of the müllerian ducts and genitourinary malformations. Part II: analysis of malformations

Abstract

Forty-seven females with duplication of the uterus and cervix were retrospectively studied to obtain a better understanding of the reasons for failure of fusion of the müllerian ducts by analyzing the associated genitourinary malformations. Thirty-one of the 47 patients had major genitourinary malformations that corresponded to three main complexes of anomalies. Cloacal anomalies were present in 16 patients, exstrophy in two, and combined cloacal and exstrophic deformities in another two. Renal malformations ipsilateral to a unilateral occluded müllerian duct were seen in 11 patients, and in four of these an ectopic ureter opened into the occluded duct. From the analysis of these anomalies it is proposed that duplication of the female genital system, when not an isolated event, may be secondary to interference of the normal process of müllerian fusion by a persistent cloacal duct, an abnormal pelvic girdle, or an ectopic ureter.