The 'curlicue' ureter

摘要

In the past, urographic or retrograde pyeloureterographic (RPG) visualization of alteration of the course of the normal ureter was used as a clue to a variety of intraabdominal and retroperitoneal pathologies [1]. Currently, CT is often the first-line imaging study for patients with obstructive urinary tract symptoms, but attention to the ureteral course on these examinations remains essential for the radiologist. Altered ureteric position may be seen with ureterosci-atic herniation as well as the more common ureteroinguinal and ureterofemoral herniation [2]. The "curlicue ureter," a ureteral configuration resembling the twist of a pig's tail (Fig. 1), is a rare but specific finding seen when the ureter herniates through the sciatic foramen (Fig. 2) [3].