Presentation
Right lower quadrant abdominal pain.
Patient Data
Age: 15 years
Gender: Male
From the case:
Nutcracker phenomenon
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Abdominal CT scan with IV and oral contrast demonstrates marked compression of the left renal vein between the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and aorta and reduced aortic-SMA angle (27°).
Dilation of the pre-stenotic part of the left renal vein is seen.
Case Discussion
The nutcracker phenomenon is when the left renal vein is compressed between the superior mesenteric artery and the aorta by a reduced aortic-SMA angle.
It can be a common incidental finding on routine CT imaging and many patients can be asymptomatic1.