Retrocaval ureter: the importance of intravenous urography
Retrocaval ureter is a rare cause of hydronephrosis. Its rarity and non-specific presentation pose a challenge to surgeons and radiologists in making the correct diagnosis. Differentiation from other causes of urinary tract obstruction, especially the more common urolithiasis, is important for...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Universiti Sains Malaysia
2011
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/18517/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/18517/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/18517/1/MJMS-18-4-084.pdf |
| Summary: | Retrocaval ureter is a rare cause of hydronephrosis. Its rarity and non-specific presentation
pose a challenge to surgeons and radiologists in making the correct diagnosis. Differentiation from
other causes of urinary tract obstruction, especially the more common urolithiasis, is important for
successful surgical management. Current practice has seen multislice computed tomography (MSCT)
rapidly replaces intravenous urography (IVU) in the assessment of patients with hydronephrosis
due to suspected urolithiasis, especially ureterolithiasis. However, MSCT, without adequate
opacification ofthe entire ureter,may allow the physician to overlook a retrocaval ureter as the cause
of hydronephrosis. High-resolution IVU images can demonstrate the typical appearance that leads
to the accurate diagnosis of a retrocaval ureter. We reported a case that illustrates this scenario and
highlights the importance of IVU in the assessment of a complex congenital disorder involving the
urinary tract. |
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