Diffuse peritonitis secondary to urachal cyst abscess in a postpartum patient

TL;DR

A rare case of urachal cyst abscess causing peritonitis in a postpartum woman highlights diagnostic challenges and the need for awareness.

Contribution

This case report adds to the limited literature on urachal cyst infections during pregnancy, emphasizing diagnostic difficulties and management strategies.

Findings

Urachal cyst abscess in pregnancy is exceptionally rare and diagnostically challenging.

Multidisciplinary collaboration was essential for successful management of the case.

Atypical symptoms and delayed diagnosis underscore the need for increased awareness among healthcare providers.

Abstract

Urachal cyst infections during pregnancy are exceptionally rare, posing diagnostic challenges. This case report contributes to the limited literature, emphasizing the rarity, diagnostic difficulties, and the need for heightened healthcare provider awareness for timely intervention.

A 32-year-old pregnant woman with persistent pelvic pain, fever, and urinary symptoms sought care with inconclusive initial diagnoses despite multiple ER visits. Labor revealed a palpable mass, and postpartum, a CT scan identified a urachal cyst abscess. Urgent laparoscopy confirmed peritonitis, leading to cyst removal, antibiotics, and a subsequent laparotomy. Histology confirmed an abscessed urachal cyst.

Urachal cyst infections in pregnancy, exceptionally rare and diagnostically challenging, highlight the importance of considering them in abdominal pain differentials. Diagnostic tools, such as ultrasound and CT scans, can be misleading, emphasizing the necessity for a multidisciplinary approach.

This case report underscores the challenges in diagnosing and managing an infected urachal cyst during pregnancy, stressing the need for awareness and a comprehensive diagnostic approach for optimal outcomes. The rarity of such cases warrants increased attention within the medical community.

•Rare Presentation: Uncommon infected urachal cyst during full-term pregnancy, challenging diagnosis•Distinctive Clinical Features: Afebrile patient with palpable mass; initial misdiagnosis as colliquated fibroid•Diagnostic Challenges: Rare urachal cyst infection; atypical symptoms, delayed diagnosis in pregnancy•Multidisciplinary Approach: Successful management with obstetric, surgical, and infectious disease collaboration

Rare Presentation: Uncommon infected urachal cyst during full-term pregnancy, challenging diagnosis

Distinctive Clinical Features: Afebrile patient with palpable mass; initial misdiagnosis as colliquated fibroid

Diagnostic Challenges: Rare urachal cyst infection; atypical symptoms, delayed diagnosis in pregnancy

Multidisciplinary Approach: Successful management with obstetric, surgical, and infectious disease collaboration

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