Nutcracker phenomenon demonstrated by three-dimensional computed tomography.
We report a 15-year-old girl with nutcracker syndrome (NCP) in whom three-dimensional helical computed tomography (3D helical CT) was useful for diagnosis; angiographic imaging using 3D helical CT provided fine outlines of the vascular structures in NCP, i.e., a compression of the left renal vein between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery and the abnormal acute angle between them. Thus, a 3D helical CT enables precise depiction of the anatomical characteristics of renal vasculature and, therefore, may be a useful alternative imaging technique instead of conventional examinations, such as invasive venography or digital subtraction angiography. Further study in a large number of children with vascular abnormalities would be worthwhile.
Kaneko
K
K
Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan. kkaneko@med.juntendo.ac.jp
Kiya
K
K
Nishimura
K
K
Shimizu
T
T
Yamashiro
Y
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012082:Renal Veins; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*