The authors report a case of giant Meckel's diverticulum, presenting as a subumbilical abdominal mass, associated with an infectious picture and anemia in a 16 month-old boy. Epidemiologic, pathologic and clinical features of this rare disorder are reviewed as are the diagnostic means. The differential diagnosis with other cystic masses of the umbilical area (omphalo-mesenteric duct cyst, urachal cyst, mesenteric cyst, duplication) is discussed.