A full-term female neonate with a BW of 3500 g was born at 39+4 weeks of gestation by vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery, due to nuchal cord, from a 31-year-old mother G1P1; Apgar score was 8 and 9 at the 1st and 5th minute, respectively. The pregnancy was uneventful apart from repeated detection of positive IgM antibodies for cytomegalovirus (CMV) from 12 weeks onwards. The neonate had a normal cranial ultrasound on the 2nd day of life and urine PCR (polymerase chain reaction) for CMV was negative. At birth, the presence of a mucous membrane in the midline of perineum from the posterior vaginal fourchette to the anterior anal orifice was noted. Pediatric surgical consultation confirmed the diagnosis of perineal groove. As the streak appearance of the anal canal was missing at the 12 o’clock position due to the presence of mucosa, anal stimulation was performed, showing a concentric contraction of the anal sphincter which was intact. The vaginal opening was also normal with no fistulae ( and ). The neonate was discharged on the 5th day of life with a plan for surgical correction of the malformation if hemorrhage or injury occurred.
A 7-day old female patient was referred by her neonatologist with a suspicion of a congenital anal fissure. During examination we found a perineal groove. She was born to a 26-year-old gravida 1 para 1 woman who did not take folic acid during her pregnancy. The patient was not noted to have any other associated anomalies during her exam.\nShe was followed up regularly for 2 years, and it was noted that the perineal groove spontaneously resolved.