Missed diagnosis of giant hydronephrosis mimicking abdominal lymphatic malformation or omental cyst in a 16-year-old girl: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Giant hydronephrosis (GH) is an uncommon urological disease most often identified and managed during infancy or childhood. Diagnosing GH prior to surgical intervention can be difficult, resulting in potential misdiagnoses as ovarian tumors or intraabdominal cystic masses. Management of GH depends on the underlying pathology and the renal function of the affected kidney.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 16-year-old girl presented to local clinics with a 1-month history of abdominal distention and irregular menstruation. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a 33-cm cystic mass occupying the entire abdomen and displacing the bowel posteriorly, suggesting a lymphatic malformation or an omental cyst. The patient underwent emergent exploratory laparotomy. A 33-cm cystic mass originating from the right retroperitoneum was discovered and removed without complications. Histopathologic examination showed atrophied renal parenchyma and a dilated renal pelvis, confirming GH. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged on postoperative day 7 in good condition.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

GH is a rare urological condition that is difficult to diagnose preoperatively, often leading to potential misdiagnoses.

CONCLUSION

Although GH is exceedingly rare in the pediatric population, we recommend including it in the differential diagnosis of large intraabdominal cystic masses in pediatric patients.