Urachal adenocarcinoma in an adolescent boy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Urachal carcinoma is an extremely rare malignant tumor originating from the urachus. Urachal adenocarcinoma has never been reported in patients under 20 years of age. In this case, we describe a 15-year-old patient with urachal adenocarcinoma and propose possible risk factors. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient presented with hematuria for two months and dysuria for one month, and had a history of smoking and alcohol consumption for three years. Ultrasonography showed an irregular mass on the anterior wall of the bladder. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a pedicled soft tissue mass measuring 2.6×2.4 cm within the bladder, showing significant enhancement. Partial cystectomy was conducted, and a histopathological diagnosis of urachal adenocarcinoma (T2N0M0) was made. During eight months of follow-up, the patient remained asymptomatic with no evidence of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Urachal remnants may lead to urinary symptoms and the development of urachal carcinoma. A history of smoking and alcohol consumption could be possible risk factors for urachal adenocarcinoma in this case. It is possible that urachal remnants can undergo malignant transformation, even at ages as young as 15 years. Regular follow-up should be recommended for patients whose urachal remnants persist beyond childhood.

Urachal xanthogranuloma: a rare but important case presenting as a urachal mass.

BACKGROUND: A urachal mass is a relatively rare presentation to the urologists' practice, often requiring radical surgical excision for a definitive diagnosis. Xanthogranulomatous inflammation of the urachus is an extremely rare entity with few cases reported worldwide, and to the best of our knowledge, no cases reported in the western world. CASE PRESENTATION: In this case, a 55-year-old male patient presented with bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms and computed tomography findings demonstrating a urachal mass that was worrisome for urachal carcinoma. Following surgical intervention, histopathology revealed urachal xanthogranuloma. Post-operatively, the patient recovered well, and eventually, he had symptomatic and radiologic improvement. CONCLUSION: This case brings awareness to a rare presentation of a urachal mass-urachal xanthogranuloma. While operative intervention was both diagnostic and therapeutic, we highlight the challenge in differentiating between benign and malignant processes for urachal masses. Herein, we show the importance of including urachal xanthogranuloma in the differential diagnosis of a urachal mass to prevent further morbidity associated with the treatment of this disease.

A Giant Urachal Accessory Spleen: Case Report.

Accessory spleen (AS) refers to single or multiple splenic tissues which appear outside the relative normal spleen position results from embryonic dysplasia similar in structure and function to the spleen. AS is frequently observed in the splenic hilus and or adjacent to the tail of pancreas, and only a few cases occurred in the pelvic cavity. We present an extremely rare AS case in urachus, which was initially considered as an urachal neoplasm revealed on CT images with big mass. However, the postoperative pathology confirmed it was an AS that had not been reported at urachal before. Urachal AS can be misdiagnosed as a tumor, so it is vital to make an accurate imaging preoperative diagnosis to avoid unnecessary biopsy and surgery.

Prenatal Detection of Vesico-Allantoic Cyst: Ultrasound and Autopsy Findings.

Introduction: The vesico-allantoic cyst is a communication between the fetal bladder and the allantois through a patent urachus.Case Report: We describe a 17-week of gestational age (WGA) fetus with a 40 x 30 mm vesico-allantoic cyst. At 19 WGA, ultrasound (US) detected bilateral dilatation of renal pelvis (5-6 mm), hydroureters, and hypospadias. Amniotic fluid, umbilical cord flow, and fetal biometry were regular. Due to uncertain prognosis, the parents opted for legal termination of pregnancy. Autopsy confirmed the prenatal findings, also revealing intestinal malrotation and Meckel's diverticulum.Discussion/Conclusion: Probably an initial urinary tract obstruction occurred, not yet affecting the amniotic fluid volume, but evident as pyelectasis. This case highlights the possibility that genito-urinary and intestinal anomalies may be found in association with the vesico-allantoic cyst.

Inflammatory Pseudotumour Of The Urachus: Case Report And Literature Review.

A 52 year old woman presented to the emergency department of Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China in May 2022, complaining of a palpable lower abdominal mass since two days. She denied haematuria, umbilical drainage, or any other urinary symptoms. Previous health record indicated that the patient was diagnosed with urachal inflammatory pseudotumour. Inflammatory pseudotumourous masses of the urachal canal are rare chronic inflammatory disorders with only a few case reports. Ultrasonography is the preferred method for diagnosing urachal lesions. Contrast- enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) allows real-time visualization of the microvascular blood flow within the solid lesion, reducing the probability of misdiagnosis of the disease. We have reported a case of urachal inflammatory pseudotumour and analyzed its ultrasonographic findings from two-dimensional conventional ultrasonography and CEUS to provide support for the diagnosis of urachal inflammatory pseudotumour in the clinic and to assist clinical selection of effective treatment modalities.

Urachal remnants: from embryology to clinical practice.

The urachus is a tubular structure that is apparent on the third week and connects the ventral cloaca to the yolk sac, as a progression from the allantois. Following the normal regression procedure, the urachus remains as the median umbilical ligament. Urachal remnants are present in 1.03% of paediatric patients while in 92.5% of cases represent incidental findings. Urachal anomalies are classified in four types as patent urachus (50-52%), urachal sinus (15%), urachal cyst (30%) and urachal diverticulum (3-5%). Ultrasound scan is the most commonly performed diagnostic imaging study. In case of symptomatic urachal remnants, surgical excision is indicated. Asymptomatic urachal remnants that are diagnosed at the neonatal period or early infancy should be watched up to 6 months of age, as they are likely to resolve. In persistent or symptomatic urachal remnants there is a risk of inflammation or even malignancy development, therefore we believe that there is indication for preventive surgical excision that may be performed either open or laparoscopically or by robot-assisted laparoscopy.

Laparoscopic management of symptomatic urachus remnants in adults: A retrospective study.

Aim: To report our experience in the laparoscopic management of symptomatic urachal remnants (URs) in adults. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study included all patients who underwent laparoscopic excision of URs during the period January 2015-January 2020. The following data were retrieved from the files of the patients: demographic data, clinical presentations, intra-operative findings, the procedure performed, operative details, intraoperative or post-operative complications and follow-up period mentioned in the files for those patients. Results: The study included 10 patients (four males and six females) with a mean age of 27.8 ± 11.0 years. URs were discovered preoperatively in all patients except one patient who was diagnosed intraoperatively. URs were associated with other pathologies in four patients (40%) that required two simultaneous surgical procedures. Eight patients (80%) presented with simple umbilical discharge and were diagnosed easily by ultrasonography. All patients were managed successfully with laparoscopic excision and umbilical sparing technique. Excision of the dome of the bladder was done on the selective approach to one patient. No patients showed early post-operative complications. Only one patient had stitch sinus 6 months postoperatively due to a concomitant hernia repair rather than due to the excision of the URs. Conclusions: Laparoscopic excision of symptomatic urachus is a feasible procedure even when the excision of the bladder is required. It could be performed successfully with other pathologies. It is associated with a low incidence of complications. Laparoscopy allows good visualisation and complete excision that leads to almost no recurrence rate.

Transurethral suturing of bladder following transurethral excision of female vesico-urachal diverticula: a novel technique with long-term follow-up results.

BACKGROUNDS: This study aims to describe and evaluate outcomes of transurethral surgery-natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (TUS-Notes) technique in patients treated with transurethral excision of vesico-urachal diverticula (VD). METHODS: Patients who underwent TUS-Notes following transurethral VD excision due to recurrent urinary tract infection (rUTI) since 2013 were included in this prospective non-randomized cohort study. Under cystoscopic guidance VD and surrounding bladder wall was resected until the fatty tissue using monopolar resectoscope. The specimen was removed with a grasper through the cystoscope. TUS-Notes technique was performed with Minimal Suturing Device (MSD-Ney®). The needle of the suture was shaped according to suturing position and loaded into MSD-Ney. They were inserted into the bladder under cystoscopic guidance transurethrally. Once the defect was sutured properly, an extracorporeal knot was prepared and tied. The length of the operation (LOO), and perioperative complications according to the Clavien-Dindo grading system were noted. The integrity of the bladder was checked with cystography to assess objective cure. Subjective cure was evaluated with Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) scale. RESULTS: The follow-up period of 65 participants varied from three months to eight years. The median LOO was 37 min. A Clavien grade-3 complication was observed in one patient. Peroperative failure was not noted. The median duration of hospital stays, and catheterization time was three days. Objective cure rate and subjective cure rates were 100%. UTI was not noted after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Transurethral complete excision of VD is an acceptable technique to prevent rUTI. The TUS-Notes technique provides a successful minimal invasive treatment option for the treatment of bladder defects. CONCISE: Transurethral suturing of urinary bladder.

Urachal Pathology: Review of Cases.

INTRODUCTION: The urachus is an embryologic remnant which is formed from the obliteration of the allantois. Urachal abnormalities are caused when defective obliteration of the urachus happens. They are an infrequent condition. Incidence is estimated to be between 5,000 and 8,000 live births. Its diagnosis and management remain a challenge due to the lack of an specific clinical picture and the controversy about the management. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to assess the clinical presentation, diagnosis, therapeutic management, and outcomes of urachal anomalies in our health area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all cases of urachal anomalies recorded Tenerife (southern health area), La Gomera, and El Hierro Islands during a 5 year period. RESULTS: Twenty-three cases of urachal pathology were included. The mean age of presentation was 32 years old. 73.9% were male. 65% were diagnosed in adults. In 30.3% of the cases, it was a casual finding. Symptoms included fever, umbilical exudate, hematuria, abdominal pain, and umbilical granuloma. The main diagnostic tests were ultrasound and computed tomography scan. Treatments were selected conservative management (43.5%), selective resection, partial cystectomy, and radical cystectomy. All patients had a good evolution. However, 2 cases where benign tumors were suspected, clinically, had a final histology of cancer in the specimen. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the lack of a specific clinical picture and undefined findings in image tools, diagnosis is difficult and it may be inaccurate. Despite more data are needed, our results suggest that the systematic excision of urachal lesions could result in safer outcomes since cases where a benign lesion is clinically suspected might result in malignant tumors.

Robot-Assisted Partial Cystectomy versus Open Partial Cystectomy for Patients with Urachal Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Localized urachal cancer (UrC) can be treated with an open partial cystectomy (OPC) with en bloc resection of the urachal remnant and umbilicus. Robot-assisted partial cystectomy (RAPC) is an alternative approach, of which its safety and efficacy for UrC remains to be determined. In the present study, we analyze these outcomes after RAPC, compared with OPC. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 55 cN0M0 UrC patients who underwent RAPC (n = 8) or OPC (n = 47) between 1994 and 2020. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were assessed using Kaplan-Meier methods. Positive surgical margins (PSM), port-site recurrences (PSR) versus wound recurrences were compared. Complications were recorded using the Clavien-Dindo classification. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 40 months (IQR 21-95). Two-year OS and RFS for RAPC were 73% (95% confidence intervals (CI); 56-89 months) and 60% (95% CI; 42-78 months), respectively, versus 90% (95% CI; 85-95 months) and 66% (95% CI; 59-73 months) for OPC. PSM rate was 13% in both groups. PSR occurred in 2/8 (25%) patients after RAPC. No wound recurrences occurred after OPC. Postoperative complications occurred in 2/8 (25%) patients after RAPC, versus 5/47 (11%) after OPC (p = 0.27). CONCLUSION: Both RAPC and OPC seem feasible surgical modalities to treat localized UrC with comparable survival. The PSR rate of 25% after RAPC should prompt us to be cautious to recommend RAPC as no such recurrences were seen using OPC.

Concurrent urachal abscess and florid cystitis glandularis masquerading as malignancy: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: The urachus is the embryological remnant of the cloaca and allantois. Failure of its regression can cause diseases any time after birth. It is difficult to differentiate an abscess from urachal adenocarcinoma based on the clinical presentation and image findings. Cystitis glandularis reflects chronic irritation of the bladder urothelium, and tumor-like florid cystitis glandularis can be misdiagnosed as malignancy. We report a patient with concurrent urachal abscess and florid cystitis glandularis which increased the resemblance of malignancy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 57-year-old female was incidentally found to have a heterogeneous pelvic mass abutting the urinary bladder. A cystoscopy examination revealed protruding tumors located in the bladder dome. Her blood test results were all normal, and urinalysis showed microscopic hematuria. Urachal cancer was diagnosed and en bloc excision of the umbilicus, tumor, and the involved bladder dome was performed. Pathology revealed urachal abscess with concurrent cystitis glandularis within the urinary bladder. No malignancy was identified in the resected specimen. CONCLUSIONS: It is challenging to distinguish urachal abscess from a malignant tumor based on the clinical presentation and imaging studies. As in our case, the coexistence of urachal abscess and tumor-like florid cystitis glandularis increased the resemblance to a malignancy. This is the first reported case of the concurrence of these two disease entities, and emphasizes that the detection of bladder tumors on cystoscopy is not sufficient to make the diagnosis of urachal cancer with bladder involvement.

Current management of the urachal anomalies (UA). Lessons learned from the clinical practice.

PURPOSE: It has been suggested that symptomatic UA requires surgical excision. However, the management of asymptomatic urachus is still controversial. We aimed to evaluate the clinical presentation, the efficacy of current modalities used, and postoperative pathology in patients with UA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have performed a retrospective review of all patients diagnosed with UA and treated surgically or conservatively over 18 years. Demographic data, clinical presentation, imaging modalities, pathology, treatment, and postoperative complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-five symptomatic patients (18 males and seven females) with a median age of 13 years (1 month to 37 years) were identified. 15 (60%) were diagnosed with a urachal cyst, 4 (16%) with sinus, 3 (12%) with urachal diverticulum, and the remaining 3 (12%) with patent urachus. Of those, 20 (80%) underwent surgical repair, and the remaining five (20%) patients were managed conservatively. 4 (20%) underwent laparotomy, 7 (35%) laparoscopic incision, and the remaining 9 (45%) laparoscopic robotic-assisted surgery. Nine patients required bladder cuff excision. The median operative time was 75 min (42-140 min). One patient developed Clavien-Dindo grade IIIA complication resulting in infected hematoma, which resolved after drainage. Another patient with a complication of grade IIIB needed reoperation as a result of recurrent events of an abscess. 13 (65%) demonstrated epithelium lining of the urachus on postoperative pathology. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that most of the patients with UA presented with epithelial lining, which might lead to the later malignant transformation. It might cause a shift from the conservative management of asymptomatic patients to surgical intervention. Robotic-assisted surgery appears beneficial in these patients, especially when the bladder cuff excision is required.

Prevalence of urachal remnants in children according to age and their anatomic variants.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to elucidate the prevalence of urachal remnants in children in relation to patient age as well as to identify their anatomic variants, using a laparoscopic view. METHODS: The medical records of 394 pediatric patients who underwent laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair were reviewed. Patients were divided into four groups based on their age at surgery. Using laparoscopic visualization, the presence and anatomic variants of urachal remnants were analyzed. RESULTS: A urachal remnant was confirmed in 140 children (35.5%). Although the prevalence was significantly higher in the group of children aged < 1 year (63.2%) than in any other group, no significant difference in the prevalence was observed between the groups aged ≥ 1 year. In 42 cases (10.7%), the urachal remnant merged into the lateral umbilical ligament. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a recommendation of nonoperative management of asymptomatic urachal remnants, especially in patients less than 1 year of age due to its probable spontaneous resolution. Knowledge of the anatomic variants could improve the accuracy of diagnosis of urachal remnants and the comprehension of its structure and localization for the achievement of accurate and complete excision.

Urinary Tract Disorders of Foals.

Urinary disease in the neonatal period can occur with primary congenital renal defects or as a secondary consequence of birth trauma, ischemic injury, nephrotoxic medications, or systemic illness. This article reviews the clinical evaluation of the urinary system in foals and highlights diagnostic and therapeutic features of the most commonly encountered urinary disorders of the equine neonatal patient.

Urinary Incontinence and Urinary Tract Infections.

Urinary incontinence results from disorders of the lower urinary tract or neurologic diseases either of the nerve supply to the bladder/urethra or within the central nervous system. Congenital causes include patent urachus and ectopic ureter. Coordination of lower urinary tract function involves the interaction of both the sympathetic and parasympathetic system as well as somatic branches of the central nervous system. Well-recognized causes of incontinence include equine herpes virus 1 myeloencephalopathy, polyneuritis equi (neuritis of the cauda equina), and sacral/coccygeal trauma. Idiopathic bladder paralysis is characterized by bladder paralysis and sabulous cystitis in the absence of overt neurologic deficits.

The Allantois and Urachus: Histological Study Using Human Embryo and Fetuses.

Relatively little is known about allantois and urachal development in early humans.Serial sagittal histological sections from eight human embryos and fetuses were examined to determine allantois development.At gestational age 6-7 weeks, the primitive allantois consists of an enlarged tube located between the umbilical cord and abdominal cavity, whereas the urachus is not yet developed. At 8 weeks, the allantois gradually withdraws from the distal to the proximal end of the umbilical cord, and both the proximal allantois and the rectum (hindgut) start to develop into the cloaca. At 10 weeks, the allantois was located mostly in the abdominal cavity.The urachus forms from the distal end of the allantois and develops into a closed fibrous cord between the base of the urinary bladder and the umbilicus. The urogenital sinus forms from the proximal end of the allantois.

Prenatally Ruptured Patent Urachus: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Patent urachus is a type of urachal anomaly in which the urachus does not tail off but remains connected to the bladder in the umbilicus. The prevalence of patent urachus is very low. Herein, we report a case of patent urachus ruptured and exposed to amniotic fluid in utero. In this case, the size decreased after the second trimester, which was thought to be due to rupture in utero. After delivery, patent urachus was confirmed by inserting a foley catheter, which runs through a ruptured cyst on umbilical cord insertion. The day after delivery, the neonate underwent surgical excision of the urachal cyst and closing umbilicus. The mechanism of patent urachus rupture is unknown. As the fetus matures, it is thought that the higher intravesical pressure may affect the rupture of the cyst. Patent urachus could be ruptured in the uterus spontaneously, and surgical correction is needed. Therefore, prenatal differential diagnosis is important.

Complications associated with patent urachus in starting of peritoneal dialysis.

Urachus is a tubular connection between the umbilical cord and the bladder of developing foetus and tends to degenerate during perinatal period to form an impatent median umbilical ligament. Failure to degenerate results in patent canal between the bladder and the umbilicus called "patent urachus" which may lead to serious of symptoms such as umbilical discharge, dermatitis, umbilical infection, abdominal pain or recurrent urinary tract infections. The Tenckhoff catheter is a tube used to perform peritoneal dialysis that is inserted through abdominal wall into peritoneum either by open surgery, minilaparotomy, laparoscopy or needle-guidewire technique. A CASE REPORT: A 57-years old man was admitted to the hospital after implantation of Tenckhoff catheter by percutaneous technique in order to start peritoneal dialysis treatment. His medical history was: endstage chronic kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy), type 2 diabetes and hypertension. After the infusion of dialysate the patient experienced sudden urine pressure and passed significant amount of urine. The CT scan showed the tip of catheter being placed inside the urinary bladder. The catheter was introduced through the abdominal wall into the canal of previously undiagnosed patent urachus. The decision about re-surgery was made to stitch urachal remnants and place new the Tenckhoff catheter. Awaiting the surgery patient temporary started hemodialysis. In ongoing observation patient did not present any complications associated with peritoneal dialysis treatment.

[External-internal sigmoid-vesical fistula following sigmoid diverticulum perforation into the patent urachus]. / Naruzhno-vnutrennii sigmovidno-mochepuzyrnyi svishch kak oslozhnenie perforatsii divertikula sigmovidnoi kishki v nezarashchennyi urakhus.

A patient with external-internal sigmoid-vesical fistula is presented. The authors describe surgical intervention (urachus excision, removal of infiltrate with resection of bladder bottom and fistula-related segment of sigmoid). Surgical challenges due to localization of fistula and appropriate literature data are discussed.

Are urachal remnants really rare in children? An observational study.

Urachal remnants are thought to have a low prevalence. However, recent studies indicate a higher rate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of urachal remnants in children referred for imaging by abdominal/urinary/suprapubic ultrasonography in one calendar year. Files of children who underwent abdominal/urinary/suprapubic ultrasonography in one calendar year were retrospectively reviewed. Data regarding children ≤17 years that underwent ultrasonography of the ventral abdominal wall while being assessed for various reasons were collected. Anomalies detected, age, gender, reason for ultrasonography request, and diagnosis of the urachal remnant were noted. All ultrasonography assessments were performed by a single pediatric radiologist in a single institution. There were 4836 patients in the study (1919 boys). Median age of the whole cohort was 7 years. A total of 10 patients were found to have urachal remnants, which included eight urachal cysts (three boys) and two urachal diverticula (one boy).Conclusion: The prevalence of urachal remnants in our cohort was nearly 2 in every 1000 children. More specifically, the prevalence of urachal cysts was one in 600. What is Known: • Urachal remnants were believed to be rare. • Recent studies indicated a higher incidence than previous reports. What is New: • This study shows that urachal remnant may be observed in one every 500 children that undergo ultrasonography of the abdomen for various reasons. • Parental counselling and management of urachal remnants should be planned accordingly.