[Pelvic inflammatory disease due to Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome]

Cir Cir. 2014 Jul-Aug;82(4):448-52.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Background: Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome is a congenital urogenital malformation that is associated with a uterus didelphys and a longitudinal vaginal septum, resulting in a blind hemivagina and ipsilateral renal agenesis. Clinical presentation is highly variable, delaying diagnosis and leading to important complications.

Clinical case: We present the case of a 13-year-old female who was diagnosed with Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome following an acute abdomen due to a right tubo-ovarian abscess. She had a vaginal septum giving rise to a right blind hemivagina. It was microperforated, causing intermittent genital bleeding. This hematocolpos was colonized by microorganisms that ascended to the pelvic cavity, causing right tuboovarian abscess. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging provided theWernermost diagnostic information. We performed a vaginal septum resection, and both hemiuteros communicated with a single vagina, resulting in an asymptomatic patient.

Conclusion: Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome is a little known entity and can be presented atypically, resulting in diagnostic difficulty and treatment delay. It is important to be aware of this syndrome in order to avoid irreversible complications.

el síndrome de Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich es una malformación urogenital congénita que asocia un útero didelfo con un tabique vaginal longitudinal que forma una hemivagina ciega y agenesia renal ipsilateral a ésta. La presentación clínica es muy variable, lo que retrasa el diagnóstico y provoca algunas complicaciones que pueden ser graves. Caso clínico: paciente femenina de 13 años de edad, con diagnóstico de síndrome de Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich a raíz de un cuadro de abdomen agudo por un absceso tuboovárico derecho. El tabique vaginal formaba una hemivagina ciega derecha microperforada que provocaba sangrados genitales intermitentes. Este hematocolpos se colonizó con microorganismos y el ascenso de estos a la cavidad pélvica causó el absceso tuboovárico derecho. La resonancia magnética nuclear aportó mayor información para el diagnóstico. La resección del tabique vaginal comunicó los dos hemiúteros con una sola vagina y los síntomas desaparecieron. CONCLUSIÓN: el síndrome de Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich es poco conocido y puede manifestarse de forma atípica, lo que dificulta el diagnóstico y retrasa el tratamiento. Para evitar complicaciones irreversibles es importante mantener una alta sospecha clínica.

Keywords: Herlyn-Wener-Wunderlich; OHVIRA; hematocolpos.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Abnormalities, Multiple* / diagnosis
  • Abnormalities, Multiple* / embryology
  • Abnormalities, Multiple* / surgery
  • Abscess / etiology
  • Adolescent
  • Fallopian Tube Diseases / etiology
  • Female
  • Hematocolpos / etiology
  • Humans
  • Kidney / abnormalities*
  • Kidney / embryology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Mullerian Ducts / abnormalities
  • Mullerian Ducts / pathology
  • Ovarian Diseases / etiology
  • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / etiology*
  • Syndrome
  • Uterus / abnormalities*
  • Uterus / embryology
  • Vagina / abnormalities*
  • Vagina / embryology
  • Vagina / surgery