An Infected Urachal Cyst in a 4-Year-Old Girl Presenting with Recurrent Abdominal Pain

J Emerg Med. 2019 Apr;56(4):e51-e54. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2019.01.006. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Abstract

Background: Urachal cysts are remnants of urachal ducts and usually present when they get infected or undergo malignant transformation.

Case report: A 4-year-old girl presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with intermittent abdominal pain, fever, dysuria, and umbilical swelling. She was diagnosed with an abscess related to an infected urachal cyst by ultrasound. The patient was treated with antibiotics, and the abscess was drained by Interventional Radiology with ultrasound guidance. She recovered uneventfully and was discharged home. The urachal cyst was excised a month later. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Though urachal cysts are rare, it is important to consider this entity in the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen and recurrent abdominal pain in the ED setting.

Keywords: pediatric emergency department; recurrent abdominal pain; urachal cysts.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / etiology
  • Abscess / drug therapy
  • Abscess / etiology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Child, Preschool
  • Drainage / methods
  • Dysuria / etiology
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / organization & administration
  • Female
  • Fever / etiology
  • Humans
  • Radiology, Interventional / methods
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
  • Ultrasonography / methods
  • Urachal Cyst / microbiology
  • Urachal Cyst / physiopathology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents