Urachus
Urachal Cyst
Haemophilus somnus isolated from a urachal abscess in a calf. (1/31)
A urachal abscess was diagnosed in a 2-month-old, crossbred heifer that was presented for a distended abdomen and clinical signs of choking. Cultures of the mucopurulent exudate, obtained from within the mass on necropsy, yielded Haemophilus somnus. This is the first known documented report of H. somnus isolated from a urachal abscess. (+info)Characteristic prenatal ultrasonographic findings of patent urachus: a case report. (2/31)
A characteristic prenatal ultrasonographic finding of patent urachus is described. Routine obstetrical ultrasonography first revealed a cystic mass in the umbilical cord at 16 weeks of gestation. The mass spontaneously decreased in size and was undetectable at full term on serial ultrasound examination. The male newborn infant was delivered uneventfully at 38 weeks of gestation, weighing 2,774 g. He was noted to void urine from the umbilicus soon after birth, and the diagnosis of patent urachus was confirmed. On the 8th day of life, complete surgical removal of the urachus was performed, and the postoperative course was uneventful. An umbilical cystic mass which diminishes in size over the course of pregnancy is a sugesstive prenatal sonographic finding for urachal anomalies. (+info)Urachal anomalies in children: experience at one institution. (3/31)
BACKGROUND: The embryological and anatomical features of urachal anomalies have been well defined. Because of the variable clinical presentations, uniform guidelines for evaluation and treatment are lacking. In an attempt to establish an optimal diagnostic and treatment modality, we report our experience with urachal anomalies at a single institution over a 10-year period. METHODS: The records of 20 patients with urachal abnormalities were reviewed. These included 12 males and 8 females with ages from 1 day to 12 years (average, 3 years). The evaluation included symptoms and signs, and results of fistulography, sonography, and voiding cystography. Postoperative conditions were also reviewed. RESULTS: The presenting complaint was umbilical discharge in 14 patients, umbilical discharge with marked umbilical granulation tissue in 2, periumbilical erythema in 3, and abdominal pain in 1. Diagnostic evaluation included fistulography in 5 cases, sonography in 13, and voiding cystourethrography in 3. The 3 variants of urachal anomalies included a patent urachus in 4 patients (20%), urachal sinus in 13 (65%), and an infected urachal cyst in 3 (15%). Treatment consisted of primary excision with a cuff of the bladder in 3, excision with ligation in 1, excision of the sinus in 13, incision and drainage in 3, and secondary excision in 1. There was 1 postoperative wound infection. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis and treatment of urachal anomalies can be made with certainty if a good physical examination and proper imaging study are performed. Voiding urethrocystography might not be required in view of the fact that none of the patients studied had an associated urinary tract anomaly. (+info)Tumors of the urachus; report of five cases. (4/31)
Reports of three patients with malignant and one with benign urachal tumor are presented. Survival of one patient in good health 11 years after removal of adenocarcinoma of a urachal cyst with vesical invasion is reported. Methods of diagnosis and treatment are discussed. (+info)Urachal inflammatory mass mimicking an intra-abdominal tumor two years after excision of the urachal sinus in a child. (5/31)
A 2-year-and-2-month-old boy presented with a tender fist-sized mass in the lower abdomen for 3 days. Turbid urine was also a complaint. His urachal sinus and umbilicus had been removed at the age of 2 months. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed a tumor mass beneath the lower abdominal wall. Total excision of the mass was performed. Microscopic examination showed an abscess located next to a small urachal remnant without stitches or foreign body reaction. To our knowledge, an urachal inflammatory mass mimicking an intra-abdominal tumor after excision of the urachal sinus, especially in children, is very rare. The factors causing such an urachal mass are discussed. (+info)Umbilical cord edema associated with patent urachus. (6/31)
Umbilical cord anomalies can often be detected prenatally by ultrasound, but a definitive prenatal diagnosis is not always possible. We present a case with increasing edema of the Wharton's jelly followed by the development of pseudocysts in the proximal umbilical cord due to a patent urachus. The first abnormal findings were detected by ultrasound in the 14th week of gestation. Differential diagnoses and their influence on surveillance and birth management are discussed. (+info)The giant umbilical cord. (7/31)
The giant umbilical cord is a rare malformation of the umbilical cord that can easily be diagnosed on prenatal scans and is unmistakable postnatally. We report a case to highlight issues of this rare finding. Visual diagnosis is easy and surgical repair is usually required. (+info)Treatment of urachal anomalies: a minimally invasive surgery technique. (8/31)
BACKGROUND: Urachal disease is uncommon. The surgical treatment consists of the resection of the urachus throughout its entire length. Our objective is to demonstrate the use of minimally invasive surgery to treat this disease. METHODS: Six patients were studied and diagnosed. The technique used three 10-mm ports on the right hemi abdomen, through which the dissection of the urachus was performed from the umbilical extreme to the bladder. We evaluated the perioperative records to assess morbidity and outcome. RESULTS: Most patients suffered from episodes of umbilical discharge. The diagnosis was made mainly through clinical history and confirmed during the laparoscopic procedure. The urachus was resected throughout its entire length, and we did not perform a segmentary bladder resection in any patient. The average operative time was 66 minutes (range, 42 to 123), and no operative complications were associated with the technique. DISCUSSION: Minimally invasive surgery is a safe and effective procedure that allows the dissection of the urachus through its entire length, providing optimal postoperative results. (+info)The urachus is a vestigial structure in humans, which is a fibrous cord that connects the umbilicus (navel or belly button) to the dome-shaped top of the bladder. In fetal development, the urachus is the passageway for urine to move from the developing bladder to the allantois, an outpouching of the hindgut that ultimately becomes part of the placenta.
After birth, the urachus usually obliterates and turns into a fibrous cord called the median umbilical ligament. However, in some cases, the urachus may not completely obliterate, leading to various congenital abnormalities such as urachal cysts, urachal sinuses, or urachal fistulas. These conditions can cause symptoms like lower abdominal pain, infection, and sometimes even sepsis if left untreated.
It's worth noting that the urachus is not a commonly discussed structure in routine medical practice, but it does have clinical significance in certain pediatric surgical cases and congenital anomalies.
A urachal cyst is a rare type of abdominal wall defect that results from the persistent embryonic remnant of the urachus, which is a canal-like structure that connects the bladder to the umbilicus (belly button) during fetal development. This canal normally obliterates and becomes a fibrous cord known as the median umbilical ligament after birth. However, if it fails to do so, it can result in the formation of various urachal anomalies, including a urachal cyst.
A urachal cyst is a fluid-filled sac that forms along any part of the urachus, usually located between the bladder and the umbilicus. These cysts are typically asymptomatic but can become infected or inflamed, leading to symptoms such as abdominal pain, tenderness, fever, and a palpable mass in the lower abdomen. In some cases, urachal cysts may also cause urinary tract infections or bladder irritation. Diagnosis is usually made through imaging studies such as ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI, and treatment typically involves surgical excision of the cyst to prevent complications.
Prenatal ultrasonography, also known as obstetric ultrasound, is a medical diagnostic procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of the developing fetus, placenta, and amniotic fluid inside the uterus. It is a non-invasive and painless test that is widely used during pregnancy to monitor the growth and development of the fetus, detect any potential abnormalities or complications, and determine the due date.
During the procedure, a transducer (a small handheld device) is placed on the mother's abdomen and moved around to capture images from different angles. The sound waves travel through the mother's body and bounce back off the fetus, producing echoes that are then converted into electrical signals and displayed as images on a screen.
Prenatal ultrasonography can be performed at various stages of pregnancy, including early pregnancy to confirm the pregnancy and detect the number of fetuses, mid-pregnancy to assess the growth and development of the fetus, and late pregnancy to evaluate the position of the fetus and determine if it is head down or breech. It can also be used to guide invasive procedures such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling.
Overall, prenatal ultrasonography is a valuable tool in modern obstetrics that helps ensure the health and well-being of both the mother and the developing fetus.