Urachal anomalies: ultrasonography and management

Abstract

Background: Fifty-six children with anomalies of the urachus remnant identified by ultrasound scan have been encountered in the authors’ hospital over the last 4 years. Methods Twenty of these 56 cases were symptomatic urachal remnants, whereas the urachus remnants were seen incidentally by ultrasound scanning in the other 36 patients. Symptomatic cases were treated with antibiotics or observation. Then, symptomatic cases were divided into 2 groups. One group, surgical group, was treated with surgical resection of the urachal remnant. The other group, observation group, was followed up without its surgical resection. Forty-four patients, 11 cases of symptomatic urachal remnant and 33 asymptomatic cases, were followed up, excluding patients who had surgical treatment and who were lost to follow-up. Results Thirty patients underwent periodical ultrasonographic examination during follow-up. In 9 cases, including 2 symptomatic cases, urachal remnants have disappeared during the follow-up period spontaneously. No symptom had developed during follow-up from asymptomatic cases. Conclusions The patients with asymptomatic urachal remnants do not require follow-up, and urachal remnants, especially those under 1 year of age, do not require surgical resection unless the patient has multiple episodes.