Imaging features of intravesical urachal cysts in children.
BACKGROUND
Urachal cysts, part of the spectrum of congenital urachal anomalies, are typically extrinsic to the urinary bladder.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to present the salient imaging features of a pediatric series of unusual intravesical urachal cysts that protrude into the bladder lumen.


METHODS
Five children with intravesical urachal cysts depicted on imaging studies were retrospectively identified during a 6-year period at a children's hospital. The clinical charts and findings on ultrasound (US) and voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) were reviewed.


RESULTS
In all five children, US revealed a thin-walled ovoid cystic structure containing anechoic fluid or echogenic debris and residing along the midline of the anterosuperior aspect of the urinary bladder protruding into the bladder lumen. Histological examination of the partial cystectomy specimen from one child revealed a cystic urachal remnant with intestinal mucosal lining and reactive lymphoid hyperplasia. The cysts in the four other children were managed conservatively without operative intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
The purpose of this report is to expand the spectrum of urachal remnant anomalies to include these newly recognized intravesical urachal cysts, which are characterized on US by the presence of a thin-walled cyst along the midline anterosuperior aspect of the urinary bladder.
Department of Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. metwalli@bcm.edu
Zeyad A
ZA
Metwalli
R Paul
RP
Guillerman
Amy R
AR
Mehollin-Ray
Alan E
AE
Schlesinger
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D014496:Urachal Cyst / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014497:Urachus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*