Herniation of ureter into greater sciatic foramen

Case contributed by Vikas Shah
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Intermittent left loin pain and non-visible hematuria. Cystoscopy and ultrasound normal.

Patient Data

Age: 60 years
Gender: Female

CT abdomen and pelvis

ct
This study is a stack
Axial C+ portal
venous phase
This study is a stack
Coronal C+ portal
venous phase
This study is a stack
Sagittal C+ portal
venous phase
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Info

Previous bowel surgery with colonic suture line. No renal masses or renal tract stones.

Delayed phase CT

ct
This study is a stack
Axial C+
delayed
This study is a stack
Coronal C+
delayed
This study is a stack
Sagittal
C+ delayed
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Info

The left renal pelvis and ureter are distended, secondary to entrapment of the distal ureter within a left sciatic hernia (trapped within the greater sciatic foramen). This has an infrapiriformis location. There is no herniation of bowel. There is blunting of the calyces of the left kidney, but overall renal size is not reduced when compared to the right kidney.

3D reconstructions

ct
Coronal
Thick MIP
3D reconstruction
renal excretory phase
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Info

The 3D reconstructions from the delayed phase CT dataset show the abnormal path of the left ureter into the left greater sciatic foramen. This has been described as the curlicue ureter sign.

3D reconstruction video

ct
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Info

The 3D reconstruction from the delayed phase CT dataset show the abnormal path of the left ureter into the left greater sciatic foramen. This has been described as the curlicue ureter sign.

Case Discussion

The distal left ureter is trapped within a ureterosciatic hernia causing upstream obstruction. It enters the greater sciatic foramen, inferior to the piriformis muscle. A conservative management path was followed.

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