Herlyn Werner Wunderlich Syndrome with Vagino-umbillical Fistula: A Most Unique Presentation

Abstract

The Herlyn–Werner–Wunderlich (HWW) syndrome is an uncommon Mullerian duct anomaly composed of a triad of obstructed hemivagina, renal agenesis, uterine didelphys with a prevalence of <1/1,000,000 females. Aside from its usual presentation of cyclic hypogastric pain and abdominal mass, there has been no other reported case in literature of the syndrome presenting with a vagino-umbilical fistula. Presented here is a unique case of a 35-year-old woman presenting with purulent, foul-smelling discharge extruding from a fistula on her umbilicus and her vagina associated with a tender hypogastric mass. Three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasonography aided the diagnosis of HWW syndrome with a concomitant vagino-umbilical fistula. Excision of the vaginal septum together with antibiotic coverage resolved her symptoms. The syndrome’s embryopathogenesis, classification, diagnostics, definitive surgical management and other issues during follow up are discussed.

Keywords

• herlyn–werner–wunderlich (hww) syndrome
• obstructed hemivagina with ipsilateral renal agenesis (ohvira) syndrome
• vagino-umbilical fistula