It was not a ureteral lesion. The importance of a correct comparison of clinical history and diagnostic imaging

It was not a ureteral lesion. The importance of a correct comparison of clinical history and diagnostic imaging

Paolo Danilo Cannizzaro¹, Roberta Pilato¹, Giuseppe Mazzone², Rosalia Latino¹, Antonio Di Cataldo^1,*

¹University of Catania, Italy, Department of Surgery; ²University of Catania, Italy, Department of Radiology

This case report could be considered very useful to show to the surgical residents how to obtain a correct diagnosis utilizing logically both clinical signs and diagnostic tools. Twenty days after a right hemicolectomy for colon cancer this patient presented a right sided colic pain in the lumbar region with irradiation to the groin and a CT showing a dilated right ureter. The anamnesis of the recent surgery was suggestive for iatrogenic ureteral lesion. Through the comparison of pre-operative and postoperative CT, however, it has been realized that a stone present in the right pelvis before surgery had been gone down to the ureter just immediately after surgery. Iatrogenic ureteral lesions after colorectal surgery are rare but should be considered a potential event during colorectal surgery. However, the correct and complete evaluation of anamnesis, clinical history, and diagnostic tools should be always done in order to reach a correct diagnosis. During the surgical residency, the residents should be encouraged to reason and think carefully, without any haste, to obtain a valid diagnostic solution.

Keywords: hemicolectomy; cancer; ureter

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How to cite this article:

Paolo Danilo Cannizzaro, Roberta Pilato, Giuseppe Mazzone, Rosalia Latino, Antonio Di Cataldo. It was not a ureteral lesion. The importance of a correct comparison of clinical history and diagnostic imaging. International Journal of Case Reports, 2022, 6:277. DOI: 10.28933/ijcr-2022-05-1705pdc

References:

1. Palaniappa 1, N.C.; Telem 2, D.A., Ranasinghe 3, N.E., Divino 4, C.M. Incidence of iatrogenic ureteral injury after laporoscopic colectomy. Arch Surg. 2012, 147, 267-271.