title: Laparoscopic management of retrocaval ureter: case report and literature review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Retrocaval ureter is a rare congenital anomaly with an incidence of approx. 1/1000 live births. Recently, the laparoscopic approach has become the gold standard for treatment, relegating open surgery as a second option.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present the case of a 27-year-old male with a 2-year history of colicky pain in the right flank radiating to the ipsilateral thigh and genital region. The patient was initially treated with a right double-pigtail catheter stent due to obstructive uropathy as evidenced by ultrasound. He underwent laparoscopic ureteral anteposition with a successful outcome and has remained asymptomatic during a 12-month follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Retrocaval ureter is a rare entity that requires a high grade of suspicion for initial diagnosis to provide adequate and opportune treatment that will have repercussions on kidney function and quality of life for the patient. Open surgery has traditionally been the treatment of choice; however, in recent decades laparoscopic surgery has been practiced more during this era of minimally invasive therapy, without yet displacing open surgery in our country.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Urología, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, México.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Montoya-Martínez
authors.forename: Efraín
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maldonado-Alcaraz
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moreno-Palacios
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Serrano-Brambila
authors.forename: Adrián
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez-Vargas
authors.forename: León Octavio
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Torres-Mercado
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D014513:Ureter / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior