Ureterocele misdiagnosed as pelvic inflammatory disease in an adolescent

Acute pelvic pain in reproductive-aged women presents a diagnostic challenge. In the case that follows, we report the management of a patient initially misdiagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease.

A 14-year-old nulligravida who presented with acute pelvic pain was diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease and possible tuboovarian abscess. Despite treatment with broad-spectrum parenteral antibiotics, the patient remained febrile with persistent pelvic pain. Com-puted tomography revealed a duplicated right collecting system with the upper pole of the kidney drained by a markedly dilated, tortuous ureter. An infected ureterocele was identified and incised during cystoscopy.

An infected ureterocele was misdiagnosed as pelvic inflammatory disease. In patients with acute pelvic pain who do not respond to appropriate interventions, it is important to consider alternative diagnoses.