Inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm: a cause of urinary obstruction and acute renal failure

Abdominal aortic aneurysms are rare causes of ureteric obstruction. We report three cases of inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm producing hydronephrosis. In two patients acute renal failure preceded this presentation. The diagnosis can be established by computed tomography when mural thrombus, wall calcification, and an enhancing periaortic soft-tissue mantle are present. It is important to recognize this disease preoperatively.