[Retroperitoneal fibrosis: a clinical analysis of 18 cases]

To investigate the clinical features and outcomes of 18 patients with retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF).

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 18 RPF patients who received treatment in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 1988 to 2004.

The initial symptoms included abdominal pain, notalgia, abdominal distension, and pyrexia. Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (35-120 mm/h), immunoglobumin, and gamma globulin levels were found in 12 patients (66.7%), 4 patients (22.2%), and 5 patients (27.8%), respectively. Mild positive antinuclear antibody (1:160-1:320) was found in 3 patients (16.7%). Urethral obstructions were found by ultrasonography and intravenous pyelography, and the existence of post-peritoneal soft tissue shadow was confirmed by computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The final diagnosis included 15 primary RPF cases and 3 secondary RPF cases. Eleven patients only received drug therapy and 6 patients underwent surgery. The conditions improved in most patients, except that one patient died of tumor.

The initial symptoms of RPF are not specific. For patients with positive laboratory and radiological examination results, further imagings, surgeries, or interventional therapy may be considered.