Tailgut cysts: a rare cause of pelvic outlet obstruction

Tailgut cysts are unusual cystic tumors of the retrorectal space. We descri be the findings of three cases. Constipation, intrapelvic fullness and low abdominal pain were the most prominent clinical manifestations. One patient developed an abscess. Ultrasound, computed tomography and MR imaging demon strated the presacral lesions. Transabdominal excision of the tumors in two patients resulted in good outcome whereas in the patient with the abscess there was recurrence with a fistula formation.