Spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage (Wünderlich syndrome): a two-case report.

OBJECTIVE

To review the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage.

METHODS/

RESULTS

We report the cases of two men 59 and 79 years old, presenting acute abdominal pain secondary to retroperitoneal bleeding (Wünderlich's syndrome) due to spontaneous renal rupture caused by urolithiasis and angiomyolipoma respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Diagnosis of acute abdomen due to retroperitoneal hemorrhage requires a combination of clinical information and imaging tests. We emphasize the role of IV contrast helical CT scan for a definitive diagnosis, which demonstrated the active bleeding point, the amount of hemorrhage, and the probable origin, and provided guide for therapeutic planning.