Varicosities of the Renal Pelvis and Ureter

Acquired Venous Disease of the Lower Urinary Tract

“…These abnormalities were not present in our patients and from the evidence it seems that the venous varicosities arose after venous thrombosis. There have been previous reports of venous varices affecting the renal pelvis and lower ureter (Gillenwater et al, 1963;Samellas, 1965) and it has been suggested that these arise in conjunction with congenital obstruction of the vena cava or renal veins (Hayashi et al, 1980). However, thrombosis affecting the lower part of the inferior vena cava can also cause marked collateral formation and it has been noted the engorgement of the prostatic venous plexus can cause prostatic symptoms (Missal et al, 1965), whereas vena caval thrombosis of the middle part of the inferior vena cava involving the renal vein can cause marked proteinuria and increased urinary red cell excretion.…”

“…Vascular abnormalities of the urinary tract are uncommon and include congenital haemangiomatous lesions which have been well characterised previously (Chopra et af., 1965;Fuleihan and Cordonnier, 1969; Murray et af., 1986). Venous varicosities of the renal pelvis and ureter have also been described (Gillenwater et al, 1963;Samellas, 1965;Hayashi etal., 1980) and the majority appear to be collateral veins resulting from congenital anomalies of the renal veins or vena cava. Such varices may be found incidentally in up to 6% of patients undergoing renal venography for reasons other than bleeding, and their relationship to haematuria remains uncertain.…”

Selective Renal Phlebography in the Diagnosis of Renal Pelvic and Ureteric Varices

“…A search of the literature reveals only isolated case reports of renal pelvic varices (Sporer and Pollock, 1947;Maslow and Aron, 1949;Gillenwater, Burros and Nackphairajj, 1963;Abrams, 1971;Mitty and Goldman, 1974). Gillenwater et al found six published cases up to 1963 and added another patient of their own.…”