Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Section 1 Brain, head, and neck
- Section 2 Spine
- Section 3 Thorax
- Section 4 Cardiovascular
- Section 5 Abdomen
- Section 6 Pelvis
- Case 69 Physiologic pelvic intraperitoneal fluid
- Case 70 Avoiding missed injuries to the bowel and mesentery: the importance of intraperitoneal fluid
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Case 71 Endometrial hypodensity simulating fluid
- Case 72 Pseudogestational sac
- Case 73 Cystic pelvic mass simulating the bladder
- Case 74 Ovarian torsion
- Case 75 Urine jets simulating a bladder mass
- Case 76 Extraluminal bladder Foley catheter
- Case 77 Missed bladder rupture
- Section 7 Musculoskeletal
- Section 8 Pediatrics
- Index
- References
Case 73 - Cystic pelvic mass simulating the bladder
from Obstetrics and gynecology
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 March 2013
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Section 1 Brain, head, and neck
- Section 2 Spine
- Section 3 Thorax
- Section 4 Cardiovascular
- Section 5 Abdomen
- Section 6 Pelvis
- Case 69 Physiologic pelvic intraperitoneal fluid
- Case 70 Avoiding missed injuries to the bowel and mesentery: the importance of intraperitoneal fluid
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Case 71 Endometrial hypodensity simulating fluid
- Case 72 Pseudogestational sac
- Case 73 Cystic pelvic mass simulating the bladder
- Case 74 Ovarian torsion
- Case 75 Urine jets simulating a bladder mass
- Case 76 Extraluminal bladder Foley catheter
- Case 77 Missed bladder rupture
- Section 7 Musculoskeletal
- Section 8 Pediatrics
- Index
- References
Summary
Imaging description
A dominant pelvic cystic structure or fluid collection may be mistaken for the urinary bladder, as it can present with an identical appearance to the bladder on multiple images (Figure 73.1), on ultrasound, CT, or MRI. This apparent bladder is sometimes referred to as a “pseudobladder.”
Careful evaluation of the entire structure, and/or a high level of clinical suspicion leading to additional reformations or imaging, will usually help avoid this pitfall.
Importance
Mistaking a cystic structure for a distended urinary bladder can result in an erroneous diagnosis of bladder pathology, such as increased post-void residual secondary to bladder outlet obstruction [1]. This could result in inappropriate interventions such as Foley catheter or suprapubic catheter placement.
Moreover, a cystic mass mistaken for the urinary bladder can result in delayed identification of a pelvic cystic mass, such as a cystic ovarian carcinoma.
Typical clinical scenario
This potential pitfall arises when a large cystic mass is present in or near the pelvic midline, presenting with a similar or identical appearance to the bladder on many images. This may occur in studies performed specifically to evaluate the bladder, to evaluate for a pelvic mass, or for non-specific symptoms unrelated to the pelvis.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Pearls and Pitfalls in Emergency RadiologyVariants and Other Difficult Diagnoses, pp. 246 - 247Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2013