Twisting of a Giant Cystic Meckel’s Diverticulum in a Toddler: A Case Report and Brief Literature Review

Abstract

Objective: Herein we report an unusual case of torsed giant cystic Meckel’s diverticulum (MD) in a three-year-old boy, illustrating the rarity of this condition and briefly reviewing the literature on it.

Case Report: A three-year-old boy who clinically presented with severe colicky abdominal pain and frequent vomiting. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a cystic lesion in the lower abdomen. Contrast-enhanced CT revealed a well-defined right upper quadrant cystic mass measuring ~5 × 4 cm. The cystic mass appeared to be arising from the small intestine. The radiological features were not suggestive of malignancy. An urgent laparotomy was performed. At operation, he was found to have an incomplete torsed giant cystic MD. Postoperative recovery was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the sixth postoperative day. A regular, 3-year follow-up revealed no complications.

Conclusion: A giant cystic Meckel’s diverticulum represents a rare cause of intra-abdominal/pelvic mass and should be considered in its differential diagnosis. Timely surgical intervention reduces morbidity and provides the best clinical outcome.