title: An unusual cause of back pain in an achondroplastic man.
abstract: A case is described of a 47-year-old man with achondroplasia who presented with lower back pain radiating to his left loin. An intravenous urogram (IVU) showed hydronephrosis on the left side and a dilated left ureter passing down into the left inguinal region. A CT scan confirmed a left inguinal hernia containing the left ureter causing ureteric obstruction. The hernia was repaired using the Lichtenstein technique with the ureter replaced retroperitoneally. A postoperative IVU showed recovery in renal function but with a persistently dilated left ureter that was not obstructed. A review of the literature regarding inguinal herniation involving the ureter is presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Plymouth Postgraduate Medical School, UK. drmarkmantle@hotmail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mantle
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Kingsnorth
mesh_terms: D000130:Achondroplasia / Q000150:complications*; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D006869:Hydronephrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery