Ureterocele Misdiagnosed As Pelvic Inflammatory Disease In An Adolescent

BACKGROUND: Acute pelvic pain in reproductive-aged women presents a diagnostic challenge. In the case that follows, we report the management of a patient initially misdiagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease.CASE: A 14-year-old nulligravida who presented with acute pelvic pain was diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease and possible tuboovarian abscess. Despite treatment with broad-spectrum parenteral antibiotics, the patient remained febrile with persistent pelvic pain. Computed tomography revealed a duplicated right collecting system with the upper pole of the kidney drained by a markedly dilated, tortuous ureter. An infected ureterocele was identified and incised during cystoscopy.CONCLUSION: An infected ureterocele was misdiagnosed as pelvic inflammatory disease. In patients with acute pelvic pain who do not respond to appropriate interventions, it is important to consider alternative diagnoses.