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Large anterior congenital urethral diverticulum in an infant: a case report
Mohammed A Hassan1, Rawa Bapir1,2,3, Ismaeil Aghaways1,4
1Urological Department, Sulaimani Teaching Hospital, Sulaimani, Iraq.
Insights
Large urethral diverticulum in male infants is rare. Surgical diverticulectomy is the preferred intervention for this congenital condition, offering promising results.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Urology
- Congenital Anomalies
Background:
- Urethral diverticulum is a rare condition, typically presenting as a sac-like dilation in the urethra.
- While often associated with females, this case highlights a congenital anterior urethral diverticulum in a male infant.
Observation:
- A 5-month-old male infant presented with a penile swelling noticeable since birth.
- Clinical examination revealed a ventral cystic penile shaft swelling that filled during urination.
- Urethrocystoscopy confirmed a wide cystic ventral urethral diverticulum.
Findings:
- The patient underwent successful diverticulectomy with multi-layered wound closure using a dartos flap.
- This surgical approach effectively removed the large anterior urethral diverticulum.
Implications:
- Early diagnosis and surgical intervention are crucial for managing congenital anterior urethral diverticulum in infants.
- This case underscores the possibility of large urethral diverticula in early infancy and the efficacy of surgical treatment.
Introduction:
A Urethral diverticulum can be defined as sac-like dilation lined with epithelial tissue, which may be congenital or acquired. It usually develops in the penoscrotal angle region but can also be observed in the penile urethra. It usually occurs in female teenagers. This report aims to discuss a male infant with a large urethral diverticulum.
Case Presentation:
A 5-month-old male presented to the urological department at Sulaimani Teaching Hospital with a penile swelling that had been noticeable since birth. Clinical examination revealed a ventral cystic penile shaft swelling, which would fill with fluid during urination. A urethrocystoscopy was performed and showed a wide cystic ventral diverticulum. Diverticulectomy was performed as a surgical approach to remove the diverticulum.
Discussion:
Congenital anterior urethral diverticulum is an uncommon condition that typically begins in early life. It can manifest with various symptoms, like recurrent infections of the urinary tract, painful urination, and post-void urine dribbling. Diagnosis involves imaging, with urethrocystoscopy, to rule out other potential diagnoses. Different surgical techniques exist that show promising results in preventing recurrence. The current case involved diverticulectomy and multi-layered wound closure with a dartos flap.
Conclusion:
Large anterior diverticulum in early infancy is rare but possible; operation is the preferred intervention method.
