Acute Presentation of Urachal Cyst: A Case Report

Urachus is an embryonic organ related to the bladder that degenerates after birth. Defective obliteration of the urachus leads to urachal malformations, the most common of which is a urachal cyst. A urachal cyst is often misdiagnosed due to its myriad presentations. Delay in diagnosis can lead to complications such as sepsis, fistula formation, and rupture of the cyst mimicking peritonitis. Hence, a high index of suspicion is required for the timely diagnosis and management of urachal cysts presenting in the emergency room. We report the case of a 32-year-old woman who presented with clinical features suggestive of an acute abdomen. The judicious use of imaging confirmed the diagnosis of an infected urachal cyst, which was surgically managed.