Circumcaval ureter

Last revised by Sze Yuen Lee on 26 Jun 2023

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Radswiki T, Lee S, Ashraf A, et al. Circumcaval ureter. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 29 Sep 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-12815

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-12815

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/12815?iframe=true

rID:

12815

Article created:

13 Jan 2011, The Radswiki ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created The Radswiki had no recorded disclosures.

View The Radswiki's current disclosures

Last revised:

26 Jun 2023, Sze Yuen Lee

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Sze Yuen Lee had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Sze Yuen Lee's current disclosures

Revisions:

27 times, by 16 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Urogenital

Sections:

Anatomy

Tags:

ureter, ivc, refs, variant

Synonyms:

Retrocaval ureter
Circumcaval ureters
Retrocaval ureters

Circumcaval ureter, also known as retrocaval ureter, is a term used to describe an abnormal course of a ureter that encircles the inferior vena cava. Both of these terms are somewhat misleading, as this configuration is considered a developmental anomaly of the inferior vena cava (IVC). There are two types:

low loop (type 1)
high loop (type 2)

The proximal ureter courses posterior to the IVC, then emerges to the right of the aorta, coming to lie anterior to the right iliac vessels. Any chosen imaging modality will usually show a right hydroureteronephrosis above the segment embracing the IVC. Intravenous urogram classically depicts a fishhook-shaped or S-shaped deformity of the ureter in type 1 or the low loop variety. In type 2, the retrocaval segment is at the same level as the renal pelvis; the sickle-shaped appearance of the involved ureter can be identified on IVU. Type 2 generally causes mild hydronephrosis and is less common than type 1.