Paediatric surgery: cloaca: practice question

A General Surgery question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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General Surgery · Paediatric surgery: cloaca

Sample item

A newborn girl has only a single perineal opening, an abdominal swelling from hydrocolpos and a small phallus-like clitoris. What is the diagnosis?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Cloaca

In a cloaca the rectum, vagina and urethra meet in a common channel opening by a single perineal orifice. Hydrocolpos and urinary tract and cardiac anomalies are common, so ultrasound of the urinary tract and echocardiography are needed before a colostomy and later reconstruction.

Option by option

  • A. Rectovestibular fistula

    A rectovestibular fistula presents with separate urethral and vaginal openings plus an anal opening in the vestibule.

  • B. Imperforate hymen

    An imperforate hymen causes hydrometrocolpos with a bulging membrane but normal separate urethra and anus.

  • C. Rectovaginal fistula

    A rectovaginal fistula presents with separate urethral meatus and vaginal opening, with stool passing from the vagina.

  • D. Cloaca (correct)

    Correct. A single perineal opening that serves the urinary, genital and intestinal tracts defines a cloaca.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More General Surgery questions

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is D, Cloaca. In a cloaca the rectum, vagina and urethra meet in a common channel opening by a single perineal orifice.

Why is "Rectovestibular fistula" not the answer?

A rectovestibular fistula presents with separate urethral and vaginal openings plus an anal opening in the vestibule.

Why is "Imperforate hymen" not the answer?

An imperforate hymen causes hydrometrocolpos with a bulging membrane but normal separate urethra and anus.

Why is "Rectovaginal fistula" not the answer?

A rectovaginal fistula presents with separate urethral meatus and vaginal opening, with stool passing from the vagina.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric surgery: cloaca in General Surgery. Hydrocolpos and urinary tract and cardiac anomalies are common, so ultrasound of the urinary tract and echocardiography are needed before a colostomy and later reconstruction.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Paediatric surgery: cloaca?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.