Radiographic diagnosis of hydrocolpos in infants.

Abstract

Any infant presenting an abdominal mass offers a diagnostic problem. Among other things, the differential diagnosis must take into account the tumors of the genito-urinary tract. Of this group there is one, hydrocolpos, which though of low incidence is important because a preoperative diagnosis leads to the simple corrective procedure of aspiration of the distended vagina. Without proper diagnosis, an exploratory abdominal operation may be performed which, if successful—and the mortality rate is high—may lead to a panhysterectomy. The importance of the correct diagnosis can therefore be appreciated. The part played by the radiographic findings in leading the radiologist at least to suspect the condition will be emphasized in this paper. The literature contains reports of imperforate hymen or atresia of the vagina producing distention of the vaginal canal (hydrocolpos), and sometimes of the uterine canal (hydrometra), by fluid. The infant with the non-patent genital tract may display progressively severe s...