Massive Ovarian Cyst Mimics Constipation

Abstract

Background: Abdominal pain and constipation are common presenting symptoms of pediatric patients presenting to the emergency department. Sometimes these symptoms are related to uncomplicated constipation from stool burden, and other cases may be secondary to more serious pathologies, including obstruction from intra- or extra-intestinal compression. Point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) can be helpful in discerning the etiology for this undifferentiated symptomatology.

Case report: A 14-year-old girl presented with 3 days of constipation and abdominal pain. This was similar to previous symptoms that resolved with laxatives. This time, however, her symptoms were associated with one episode of vomiting. PoCUS expanded a narrow differential with the discovery of a large ovarian cyst. This finding helped to expedite her transfer to a pediatric hospital for definitive treatment in the operating room. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Constipation is one of the leading reasons pediatric patients present to the ED with abdominal pain. PoCUS can detect uncommon causes of constipation, especially pathologies associated with large volumes of fluid, such as a large ovarian cyst, bladder outlet obstruction, or small bowel obstruction.

Keywords: constipation; emergency medicine; ovarian cyst; pediatrics; point-of-care ultrasound.