Acute urinary retention and obstipation: a rare cause…

Abstract

Tailgut cysts are rare congenital anomalies, believed to be remnants of the primitive embryonic hindgut. In addition to causing genitourinary and bowel obstructive symptoms, they have been reported to harbour occult adenocarcinoma. Varying positions of a tailgut cyst with respect to the rectum have also been reported in literature. We present a rare presentation of this disease vis a vis obstipation and acute urinary retention in a 70 year old man.

Keywords: Congenital; Obstipation; Tailgut cyst; Urinary retention.

Fig. 1

MRI Picture showing a large, ovoid, well defined collection measuring 10 cms [CC] x 8.2 cm [T] x 11 cm [AP] displacing the urinary bladder anteriorly

Fig. 2

Intra-operative picture showing a 10 x 15 cm cystic, globular mass in the right para-rectal region