MECONIUM HYDROCELE IN A FEMALE NEWBORN - AN UNUSUAL CAUSE OF A LABIALMASS

Meconium peritonitis results from in utero perforation of the bowel an d subsequent spillage of meconium into the peritoneal cavity. Free com munication of the peritoneal space with the processus vaginalis during gestation permits formation of a meconium hydrocele. Meconium hydroce le has been reported in the newborn scrotum but to our knowledge there has been no previous report of meconium hydrocele in the labium of a female neonate. The predominance of meconium hydrocele in the male inf ant may be due to the obliteration of the processus vaginalis occurrin g later in the male than in the female fetus.