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.