An infected urachal cyst--a rare diagnosis in a child with acute abdominal pain.

A 2-year-old girl who presented with acute abdominal pain and spiking fever was diagnosed with an infected urachal cyst. Ultrasonography aided the diagnosis and the urachal remnant was removed successfully through a single laparoscopic procedure. Treatment is through removal of the complete structure, to prevent malignant degeneration in adulthood.

CONCLUSIONS

Urachal cysts may cause abdominal complaints when infected. Although rare, they should be added to the differential diagnosis of acute abdominal pain in the paediatric patient, as this case illustrates.