An unusual cause of pelvic pain and fever: periurethral abscess from an infected urethral diverticulum.

BACKGROUND

The evaluation of patients with pelvic pain is a common task for emergency physicians. Accurate diagnosis of the underlying cause of pelvic pain in women is often difficult given the diversity of pathology that can generate pelvic pain.

OBJECTIVE

To report a rare but clinically significant cause of acute pelvic pain in women.

METHODS

We describe a rare case of a periurethral abscess secondary to an infected urethral diverticulum in a 41-year-old woman. She presented to our Emergency Department with pelvic pain, dysuria, and fever of 4 days duration.

CONCLUSIONS

Physical examination, imaging studies, and surgery aided in confirming the diagnosis of a periurethral abscess.