Circumcaval Ureter - MDCT & Retrograde Pyelography Features

Abstract

The circumcaval ureter is a rare congenital anomaly usually associated with upper urinary tract hydronephrosis. Although it is a congenital anomaly, patients usually do not present with symptoms until the 3 rd and 4 th decades of life. The Patients main symptoms include right loin pain, recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI) and hematuria. 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 Multidetector Computed Tomography (MDCT) rapidly replaces Intravenous Urography (IVU) in the assessment of patients with hydronephrosis. We report a case of Type 1 Circumcaval ureter in a 36 years old female presenting with recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) & right loin pain, referred for MDCT & Retrograde Pyelography (RGP).