[Retrorectal cystic hamartoma (tailgut cyst): an uncommon cause of recurrent abdominal pain.]

Retrorectal cystic hamartomas are rare congenital lesions that arise from aberrant remnants of the postanal gut. Most of them appear as asymptomatic lesions in middle-aged women but they can manifest with nonspecific symptoms such as abdominal or pelvic pain, constipation or diarrhoea, genitourinary symptoms, etc. Due to their anatomical position and variable presentation these lesions are often misdiagnosed. Complications include infection and malignant transformation, which is the reason why surgical treatment is always indicated. We report a case of a woman with recurrent episodes of abdominal pain that lasted for many years and increased progressively, conditioning her daily life activities. Image studies showed a non-complicated retrorectal cystic hamartoma. Complete surgical excision was achieved and the patient remains asymptomatic nowadays. Key words. Retrorectal cystic hamartoma. Abdominal pain.