Rare case of an upper urinary tract carcinoma (UTUC) in renal pelvis and ureter associated to renal vein thrombosis: diagnostic imaging with CECT, MRI and CEUS

J Ultrasound. 2019 Sep;22(3):373-379. doi: 10.1007/s40477-019-00396-z. Epub 2019 Jun 26.

Abstract

A 58-year-old woman complaining of dyspnea and mild flank pain was admitted to our radiology department after undergoing ultrasonography in another institution. She showed hydronephrosis and left kidney swelling. We performed a contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) that confirmed the hydronephrosis and revealed a widely hypoperfused left kidney, a concentric thickening of the proximal ureter, and a slight and diffuse thickening of the renal pelvic wall, with a hyperdense content in the unenhanced CT phase and poor contrast enhancement in the post-contrast phases. A proximal ipsilateral renal vein thrombosis was associated. Non-contrast magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the CECT findings. At the same time, we performed a contrast-enhanced ultrasonography examination, which proved to be helpful for the characterization of the lesion and for patient management.

Keywords: Contrast-enhanced computed tomography; Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography; Magnetic resonance imaging; Renal vein thrombosis; Urothelial carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Contrast Media*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kidney Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Kidney Pelvis*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplastic Cells, Circulating*
  • Renal Veins*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed* / methods
  • Ultrasonography / methods
  • Ureteral Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Ureteral Neoplasms / pathology*

Substances

  • Contrast Media