Objective: To investigate the clinical application of sagittal abdominal CT scan in determination of neonatal congenital anorectal atresia.Methods: Preoperative examinations

including leteral up-side-down abdominal plain film

ultrasound and sagittal abdominal CT scan

were performed in 5 neonates with congenital anorectal atresia.The distance between the atresic pouch and skin was measured with the three imaging modalities

and correlated respectively with the results obtained during operation.Results: The atresic pouch was observed distinctively on CT images in all 5 cases.The measurement results derived by CT and ultrasound were well correlated with that derived during operation

with a correlation coefficient of 0.988 for CT and operation

and 0.991 for ultrasound and operation.There was no significant correlation between the measurement results derived by plain film and during operation

with a correlation coefficient of 0.635.Conclusion: Sagittal abdominal CT scan

as accurate as ultrasound and more accurate than plain film for determination of the atresic level

could be used as a choice of imaging modality in neonatal congenital anorectal atresia.