The unpredictable clinical course of an abdominal cyst diagnosed in the prenatal period: A case report

Enteric duplication cysts are rare congenital malformations of the gastrointestinal tract. Prenatal diagnosis can be achieved through ultrasound, which may reveal a cystic mass, though the differential diagnosis is broad. We report a case in which the prenatal ultrasound detection of an abdominal cy...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Carmine Sica, Giuliana Orlandi, Antonio Schiattarella, Giordana Sica, Paolo Toscano, Antonia Lettieri, Olimpia Gabrielli, Luigi Manzo, Laura Letizia Mazzarelli, Letizia Di Meglio, Lavinia Di Meglio, Ferdinando Antonio Gulino, Giosuè Giordano Incognito, Attilio Tuscano, Laura Ieno, Marco Palumbo, Maurizio Guida, Aniello Di Meglio
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-12-01
Series:Case Reports in Women's Health
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214911223000929
Description
Summary:Enteric duplication cysts are rare congenital malformations of the gastrointestinal tract. Prenatal diagnosis can be achieved through ultrasound, which may reveal a cystic mass, though the differential diagnosis is broad. We report a case in which the prenatal ultrasound detection of an abdominal cystic mass prompted postnatal magnetic resonance imaging, leading to the diagnosis of an enteric duplication cyst. At 6 weeks of age, the infant developed an obstruction of the small bowel, requiring urgent surgical intervention. This case underscores the difficulties in differentiating abdominal cysts prenatally. Thorough prenatal and neonatal follow-up is crucial, and postnatal magnetic resonance imaging is sometimes essential for accurate diagnosis. The clinical course can be unpredictable, and complications that may arise could necessitate urgent surgical treatment.
ISSN:2214-9112