Abdominal Cerebrospinal Fluid Pseudocyst Masquerading as Ascites in an Adolescent Girl

Abdominal Cerebrospinal Fluid Pseudocyst Diagnosed with Point-of-care Ultrasound

Abdominal pseudocysts are rare complications of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts characterized by accumulations of cerebrospinal fluid surrounded by fibrous layers in the intra-abdominal cavity or abdominal wall. We present a woman with bilateral VP shunts who presented with right-sided abdominal distension, pain, and tenderness and who was found to have an abdominal pseudocyst on point-of-care ultrasound and computed tomography. Given the potential to develop a secondary infection or VP shunt malfunction, it is important for emergency providers to consider intra-abdominal complications of VP shunts, including rare ones such as abdominal pseudocysts, in these patients who present with vague abdominal complaints.