Imperforate hymen and leaking hematosalpinx mimicking acute appendicitis: A report of a rare case and a review of literature

A rare cause of acute urinary retention in adolescents: A case of imperforate hymen

Imperforate hymen is a genital outflow abnormality that can occur in females. It can present with various symptoms and is associated with short- and long-term complications that may affect patients' quality of life. Acute urinary retention in adolescents is a rare occurrence. We report a case of delayed diagnosis of imperforate hymen involving multiple visits to the clinic for urinary symptoms and the subsequent development of acute urinary retention. Awareness of this rare presentation is essential since delayed diagnosis is associated with hydronephrosis, endometriosis and infertility in later life.

Imperforate hymen mimicking acute appendicitis in an adolescent woman: a rare presentation

Imperforate hymen is a rare congenital malformation of the female genital tract. The condition poses several diagnostic challenges owing to its low incidence and often atypical presentation. Classical symptoms include amenorrhoea and cyclical abdominal pain. Delayed diagnosis leads to potentially irreversible and lifechanging sequelae including infertility, endometriosis and renal failure. A premenarchal 13-year-old girl with a background of chronic constipation presented with symptoms mimicking acute appendicitis. The underlying cause was imperforate hymen and retrograde menstruation. The diagnosis was made during diagnostic laparoscopy. As with this patient, pre-existing symptoms are often troublesome long before the true diagnosis is made. This case report highlights the importance of recognising imperforate hymen as a potential cause of acute abdominal pain in premenarchal adolescent girls. The clinical picture may present as right or left iliac fossa pain. Early identification reduces the risk of adverse complications and avoids unnecessary and potentially harmful interventions.