Rectovesical fistula

Case contributed by Mohammad Taghi Niknejad
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Pneumaturia and passage of urine rectally. No prior surgery.

Patient Data

Age: 60 years
Gender: Male
mri

An air-fluid level is present within the urinary bladder.

The anterior wall of the upper rectum touched the posterior wall of the urinary bladder, and a suspected fistula is seen between the rectum and bladder, better seen in post-contrast T1W fat sat images.

A gastrografin enema was performed to confirm the rectovesical fistulous formation diagnosis.

Single contrast enema

Fluoroscopy

By injecting contrast medium through the anus, the rectum is visualized, and a frank rectovesical fistula causes contrast passage into the small trabeculated urinary bladder.

A left-sided vesicoureteric reflux is also seen.

Several stones are seen in the right renal lodge in a non-contrast image.

Case Discussion

This case typically demonstrates a rectovesical fistula in an elderly male patient with pneumaturia and passage of urine rectally, probably due to prior diverticulitis.

Diverticulitis (60%), colorectal cancer (20%), and Crohn disease (10%) are the main causes of colovesical fistula that usually occur through the dome of the bladder.

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