Acute Presentation of Giant Hydronephrosis in an Adult

Abstract

Giant hydronephrosis is defined as a dilated collecting system containing more than one liter of fluid. The diagnosis of giant hydronephrosis is rare due to improved diagnostics and the liberal use of abdominal imaging. Herein we report a 40-year-old woman who presented with acute onset abdominal pain and was diagnosed with giant hydronephrosis. She underwent a simple open nephrectomy and made an unremarkable recovery. Although giant hydronephrosis due to ureteropelvic junction obstruction is common in the pediatric and adolescent age group, it rarely presents in adults. Acute presentations, like abdominal pain, are exceedingly rare. Judicial use of cross-sectional imaging, as in our patient, can confirm the diagnosis and help in successful management.