Abstract
A newborn female infant presented with a lower abdominal mass and sepsis. Radiologic and ultrasonic studies established the diagnosis of pyocolpos. Surgical drainage was successfully carried out. Hydrocolpos is an uncommon anomaly resulting from imperforate hymen or atresia of the vagina. It usually presents in the first few weeks of life as an asymptomatic abdominal mass or with symptoms due to compression of adjacent structures by the enlarged vagina. Rarely, pyocolpos results from an infected hydrocolpos, usually associated with vaginal atresia rather than imperforate hymen. It may cause life-threatening sepsis; early diagnosis and prompt surgical drainage are therefore essential. The infant described demonstrates the diagnostic approach and the management of pyocolpos.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cook GT, Marshall VP (1964) Hydrocolpos causing urinary obstruction. J Urol 92: 127–129
Dooley RT (1962) Hydrometrocolpos. Am J Dis Child 103: 692–696
Dungy CI, Aptekar RG, Cann HM (1971) Hereditary hydrometrocolpos with polydactyly in infancy. Pediatrics 47: 138–141
Godefroy M (1856) Imperforation de la membrane hymen. Lancette Franc Gaz Hop 29: 567
Goecke T, Dopter R, Huenges R, Conzelmann W, Feller A, Majewski F (1981) Hydrometrocolpos, postaxial polydactyly, congenital heart disease and anomalies of the gastrointestinal and genitourninary tracts: a rare autosomal recessive syndrome. Eur J Pediatr 136: 297–305
Graivier L (1969) Hydrocolpos. J Pediatr Surg 4: 563–568
Graivier L, McKay DL, Katz A (1977) Hydrocolpos, vaginal atresia and urethrovaginal fistula in a neonate: abdominoperineal-vaginal pull through. J Pediatr Surg 12: 605–607
Kaufman RL, Hartman AF, McAlister WH (1972) Family studies in congenital heart disease. II: A syndrome of hydrometrocolpos, postaxial polydactyly and congenital heart disease. Birth Defects 8: 85–87
Kirks DR, Curranino AG (1977) Imperforate vagina with vaginourethral communication. Am J Roentgenol 129: 623–628
Knowles JC, Brandt IK, Bull MJ (1981) Kaufman syndrome (hydrometrocolpos, polydactyly and congenital heart disease) with pituitary dysplasia, choanal atresia and vertebral anomalies. Am J Med Genet 8: 389–393
Mahoney PJ, Chamberlain JW (1940) Hydrometrocolpos in infancy. Congenital atresia of the vagina with abnormally abundant cervical secretions. J Pediatr 17: 772–780
McKusick VA, Bauer RL, Koop CE, Scott RB (1964) Hydrometrocolpos as a simply inherited malformation. JAMA 189: 119–122
Ramenofsky ML, Raffenspenger JG (1971) An abdominoperineal vaginal pull-through for definitive treatment of hydrometrocolpos. J Pediatr Surg 6: 381–387
Reed MH, Griscom NT (1973) Hydrometrocolpos in infancy. AJR 118: 1–13
Robinow M, Shaw A (1979) The McKusick-Kaufman syndrome: recessively inherited vaginal atresia, hydrometrocolpos, postaxial polydactyly and congenital heart disease. J Pediatr 94: 776–778
Spence HM (1962) Congenital hydrocolpos. A review with emphasis on urologic aspects and a report of four additional cases. JAMA 180: 1100–1105
Sepncer R, Levy D (1962) Hydrometrocolpos. Report of three cases and review of the literature. Ann Surg 155: 558–571
Westerhout FC, Hodgman JE, Anderson GV, Sack RA (1964) Congenital hydrocolpos. Am J Obstet Gynecol 89: 957–996
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Offprint requests to: O. Zamir
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zamir, O., Hadary, A., Udassin, R. et al. Pyocolpos — a rare cause of neonatal sepsis. Pediatr Surg Int 2, 362–364 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00175650
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00175650