Korean J Med.  2003 Feb;64(2):230-234.

Nutcracker syndrome: treatment with an intravascular stent

• Jung YS
• An SJ
• Lee DW
• Lee SB
• Ha IS
• Rha Y
• Kim CW

Abstract

The nutcracker syndrome refers to compression of the left renal vein between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery, which results in renal vein and left gonadal vein varices. This is an unusual, but well accepted cause of hematuria. We report a case of the nutcracker syndrome which is diagnosed by CT angiography before venography and pressure measurement of the left renal vein and managed by intravascular stent placement. A 47-year-old female patient was presented with gross hematuria. Urinalysis revealed hematuria with only 1% of dysmorphism. Abdominal spiral CT and 3D CT angiography revealed compression of the left renal vein between the aorta and superior mesenteric artery because of an acute branching angle of superior mesenteric artery from the aorta. Renal venography showed compression of the left renal vein and collateral circulations to the left ovarian vein and lumbar vein. The pressure gradient between the left renal vein and inferior vena cava was 4 mmHg. Intravascular stent was placed in this patient. We conclude that in patients with the nutcracker syndrome, CT angiography could be considered before venography and venous pressure measurements. When this syndrome leads to clinical symptoms, Intravascular stent placement should be considered. Well designed stent offers minimal invasiveness and physiologic relief as in the present case.

Keyword

Hematuria; Renal veins; Stents

MeSH Terms

Angiography
Aorta
Collateral Circulation
Female
Gonads
Hematuria
Humans
Mesenteric Artery, Superior
Middle Aged
Phlebography
Renal Veins
Stents*
Tomography, Spiral Computed
Urinalysis
Varicose Veins
Veins
Vena Cava, Inferior
Venous Pressure