Patent Urachus Presenting as Persistent Umbilical Discharge with Concomitant Umbilical Hernia in an Adult: A Case Report

Abstract

Patent urachus (PU) is usually diagnosed in the neonatal or early pediatric period, while adult cases are uncommon. We report a 26-year-old woman with intermittent umbilical urine leakage, mild periumbilical erythema, tenderness and serous discharge. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a tubular tract connecting the bladder dome to the umbilicus, suggestive of PU. The patient underwent laparoscopic excision of the urachal remnant with primary repair of a small umbilical hernia. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis. This case demonstrates that PU may persist into adulthood and present with nonspecific symptoms, requiring appropriate imaging for accurate diagnosis and definitive surgical treatment.