The Nutcracker Syndrome

Abstract

Nutcracker syndrome (NCS) is a rare condition caused by the compression of the left renal vein between the abdominal aorta and the superior mesenteric artery. NCS may present with unexplained hematuria. This case report presents a 43-year-old healthy female without any complaints who had newly-detected hematuria in urinalysis during her annual examination. Her physical examination and the whole abdominal ultrasonography failed to explain the cause of hematuria. Further investigation with contrast-enhanced upper abdominal computed tomography revealed a NCS. In unexplained cases of asymptomatic hematuria NCS should be taken into account after excluding other preliminary diagnoses.