Entero-Urachal Fistula: An Unusual Initial Presentation of Penetrating and Stricturing Crohn's Disease. 2023

Kayleigh M Herrick-Reynolds, and Christina M Steinhauser, and Manish Singla, and Walter B Kucera, and Gary G Wind, and Thomas S Gerald, and Hernan O Altamar, and Mary T O'Donnell
Department of Surgery, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Crohn's disease (CD) has a wide variety of clinical presentations, ranging from abdominal pain to stricture and fistula. Fistulas involving the genitourinary tract can be severe and often require surgical intervention. Given the array of presenting symptoms, a delay in diagnosis can occur. We present the case of a healthy active duty soldier, with no previous medical history, found to have CD through an initial presentation of isolated umbilical drainage. Imaging workup identified an entero-uracho-cutaneous fistula with involvement of the transverse colon. Urachal anomalies are uncommon, and entero-urachal fistula as an initial presentation of CD is exceedingly rare. This case highlights the need to consider CD in the differential for patients with umbilical drainage despite a lack of concurrent more frequent presenting symptoms (abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, and perianal fistula). Maintaining awareness of uncommon initial presentations of CD can minimize delay in diagnosis and thereby mitigate the risk of severe complications.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007412 Intestinal Fistula An abnormal anatomical passage between the INTESTINE, and another segment of the intestine or other organs. External intestinal fistula is connected to the SKIN (enterocutaneous fistula). Internal intestinal fistula can be connected to a number of organs, such as STOMACH (gastrocolic fistula), the BILIARY TRACT (cholecystoduodenal fistula), or the URINARY BLADDER of the URINARY TRACT (colovesical fistula). Risk factors include inflammatory processes, cancer, radiation treatment, and surgical misadventures (MEDICAL ERRORS). Cholecystoduodenal Fistula,Colovesical Fistula,Enterocutaneous Fistula,Fistula, Cholecystoduodenal,Fistula, Colovesical,Fistula, Enterocutaneous,Fistula, Intestinal
D012003 Rectal Fistula An abnormal anatomical passage connecting the RECTUM to the outside, with an orifice at the site of drainage. Anal Fistula,Fistula, Rectal
D001745 Urinary Bladder Diseases Pathological processes of the URINARY BLADDER. Bladder Diseases,Bladder Disease,Urinary Bladder Disease
D003251 Constriction, Pathologic The condition of an anatomical structure's being constricted beyond normal dimensions. Stenosis,Stricture,Constriction, Pathological,Pathologic Constriction,Constrictions, Pathologic,Pathologic Constrictions,Pathological Constriction,Stenoses,Strictures
D003424 Crohn Disease A chronic transmural inflammation that may involve any part of the DIGESTIVE TRACT from MOUTH to ANUS, mostly found in the ILEUM, the CECUM, and the COLON. In Crohn disease, the inflammation, extending through the intestinal wall from the MUCOSA to the serosa, is characteristically asymmetric and segmental. Epithelioid GRANULOMAS may be seen in some patients. Colitis, Granulomatous,Enteritis, Granulomatous,Enteritis, Regional,Ileitis, Regional,Ileitis, Terminal,Ileocolitis,Crohn's Disease,Crohn's Enteritis,Inflammatory Bowel Disease 1,Regional Enteritis,Crohns Disease,Granulomatous Colitis,Granulomatous Enteritis,Regional Ileitides,Regional Ileitis,Terminal Ileitis
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D015746 Abdominal Pain Sensation of discomfort, distress, or agony in the abdominal region. Colicky Pain,Abdominal Pains,Colicky Pains,Pain, Abdominal,Pain, Colicky,Pains, Abdominal,Pains, Colicky

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