Fish bone perforation into a patent urachus mimicking urachal carcinoma: Case report
Abdullah B Alanazi1, Afrah M Aldhowayan1, Mousa M Almuhanna1
1Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, College of medicine, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract:
Ingestion of foreign body may induce complications such as perforation, impaction, or penetration. Diagnosis rarely made preoperatively due to clinical symptoms are usually nonspecific and can mimic other surgical conditions. A 69-year-old male presented to emergency department with vague abdominal pain for few days. Following a clinical evaluation and computed tomography scan of the abdomen, provisional diagnosis of urachal carcinoma was made. As the result of urachal excision with partial cystectomy including fishbone were resected, pathology revealed benign urothelium.
Insights
A fishbone ingested by a 69-year-old male mimicked urachal carcinoma, highlighting challenges in diagnosing foreign body ingestion. Surgical resection revealed the fishbone, not cancer, emphasizing the need for thorough differential diagnosis in abdominal pain cases.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Foreign body ingestion can lead to serious complications like perforation and impaction.
- Diagnosing ingested foreign bodies preoperatively is challenging due to nonspecific symptoms that can mimic other surgical conditions.
Observation:
- A 69-year-old male presented with vague abdominal pain.
- Computed tomography (CT) scan suggested urachal carcinoma.
Findings:
- Surgical resection of the urachal area included a fishbone.
- Pathology confirmed benign urothelium, ruling out urachal carcinoma.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering foreign body ingestion in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain, even when imaging suggests malignancy.
- Accurate preoperative diagnosis of foreign body complications remains a clinical challenge.
