Nutcracker syndrome

Nutcracker syndrome
The nutcracker syndrome results from compression of the left renal vein between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery.
Classification and external resources
DiseasesDB	32367

Compression of the left renal vein (marked by the arrow) between the superior mesenteric artery (above) and the aorta (below) due to nutcracker syndrome.

Thrombosis in the left renal vein associated with dilation.

A nutcracker. The legs of this nutcracker, with some imagination, could represent the superior mesenteric artery and abdominal aorta in nutcracker syndrome.

The nutcracker syndrome (NCS) — is a manifest variant of nutcracker phenomenon, renal vein entrapment syndrome, or mesoaortic compression of the left renal vein. It results most commonly from the compression of the left renal vein between the abdominal aorta (AA) and superior mesenteric artery (SMA), although other variants exist.^[1][2] The name derives from the fact that, in the sagittal plane and/or transverse plane, the SMA and AA (with some imagination) appear to be a nutcracker crushing a nut (the renal vein). There is a wide spectrum of clinical presentations and diagnostic criteria are not well defined, which frequently results in delayed or incorrect diagnosis.^[1] This condition is not to be confused with superior mesenteric artery syndrome, which is the compression of the third portion of the duodenum by the SMA and the AA.

Signs and symptoms

NCS is associated with hematuria (which can lead to anemia)^[3] and abdominal pain (classically left flank or pelvic pain).^[4]

Since the left gonad drains via the left renal vein it can also result in left testicular pain^[5] in men or left lower quadrant pain in women. Nausea and vomiting can result due to compression of the splanchnic veins.^[5] An unusual manifestation of NCS includes varicocele formation and varicose veins in the lower limbs.^[6] Another clinical study has shown that nutcracker syndrome is a frequent finding in varicocele-affected patients and possibly, nutcracker syndrome should be routinely excluded as a possible cause of varicocele and pelvic congestion.^[7]

Diagnosis

Nutcracker syndrome can be diagnosed with:

• Left renal venography — considered to be the gold standard test.
• Computed tomography (CT).
• Abdominal ultrasonography — not definitive but has been found to be useful.^[8]

Differential diagnosis

• Pelvic Congestion Syndrome
• Renal stones
• Genitourinary malignancy
• Loin pain hematuria syndrome^[9]

Treatment

Treatment depends on the severity and symptoms. Treatments include:

• Endovascular stenting.^[4]
• Renal vein re-implantation.^[10]
• Gonadal vein embolization.^[10]

References

1. Kurklinsky A, Rooke T (June 2010). "Nutcracker Phenomenon and Nutcracker Syndrome". Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 85 (6): 552–559. doi:10.4065/mcp.2009.0586. PMC 2878259. PMID 20511485.
2. Sugimoto I, Takashi O, Ishibashi H, Takeuchi N, Nagata Y, Honda Y (2001). "Left Renal Vein Entrapment Syndrome (Nutcracker Syndrome) treated with Left Renal Vein Transposition". Jnp J Vasc Surg. 10: 503–7.
3. Oteki T, Nagase S, Hirayama A, et al. (July 2004). "Nutcracker syndrome associated with severe anemia and mild proteinuria". Clinical Nephrology. 62 (1): 62–5. doi:10.5414/CNP62062. PMID 15267016.
4. Barnes RW, Fleisher HL, Redman JF, Smith JW, Harshfield DL, Ferris EJ (October 1988). "Mesoaortic compression of the left renal vein (the so-called nutcracker syndrome): repair by a new stenting procedure". J. Vasc. Surg. 8 (4): 415–21. doi:10.1067/mva.1988.avs0080415. PMID 3172376.
5. Hilgard P, Oberholzer K, Meyer zum Büschenfelde KH, Hohenfellner R, Gerken G (July 1998). "[The "nutcracker syndrome" of the renal vein (superior mesenteric artery syndrome) as the cause of gastrointestinal complaints]". Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. (in German). 123 (31–32): 936–40. doi:10.1055/s-2007-1024101. PMID 9721569.
6. Little AF, Lavoipierre AM (June 2002). "Unusual clinical manifestations of the Nutcracker Syndrome". Australas Radiol. 46 (2): 197–200. doi:10.1046/j.1440-1673.2001.01037.x. PMID 12060163.
7. Mohamadi A, Ghasemi-Rad M, Mladkova N, Masudi S (August 2010). "Varicocele and nutcracker syndrome: sonographic findings". Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine. 29 (8): 1153–1160. PMID 20660448.
8. Takebayashi S, Ueki T, Ikeda N, Fujikawa A (January 1999). "Diagnosis of the nutcracker syndrome with color Doppler sonography: correlation with flow patterns on retrograde left renal venography". American Journal of Roentgenology. 172 (1): 39–43. doi:10.2214/ajr.172.1.9888735. PMID 9888735.
9. Ahmed K, Sampath R, Khan MS (April 2006). "Current trends in the diagnosis and management of renal nutcracker syndrome: a review". European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. European Society for Vascular Surgery. 31 (4): 410–416. doi:10.1016/j.ejvs.2005.05.045. PMID 16431142. External link in |journal= (help)
10. Rudloff U, Holmes RJ, Prem JT, Faust GR, Moldwin R, Siegel D (January 2006). "Mesoaortic compression of the left renal vein (nutcracker syndrome): case reports and review of the literature". Ann Vasc Surg. 20 (1): 120–9. doi:10.1007/s10016-005-5016-8. PMID 16374539.

External links

• Kimura K, Araki T (July 1996). "Images in clinical medicine. Nutcracker phenomenon". The New England Journal of Medicine. 335 (3): 171. doi:10.1056/NEJM199607183350305. PMID 8657215.