[Ureteral hydronephrosis secondary to appendicular abscess].

OBJECTIVE

To report a case of ureterohydronephrosis secondary to an undiagnosed appendiceal abscess.

METHODS/

RESULTS

Herein we describe a case of a 4-year-old girl with right ureterohydronephrosis arising from extrinsic compression of the right ureter due to an undiagnosed appendiceal abscess. The patient was treated with intravenous antibiotics and the abscess was drained. Regular isotope and US assessments showed both the residual retroperitoneal fibrosis and renoureteral dilation had decreased.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute appendicitis is still the most common cause of emergency abdominal operations in children. Although the symptoms are easily recognizable and generally lead to the correct diagnosis in most cases, the peculiarities of childhood can lead to errors in the diagnosis resulting in the complications reported herein. We emphasize the usefulness of ultrasound in the diagnosis and conservative treatment is advocated.