Laparoscopic excision of an acquired ureteral diverticulum: A case report

Ureteral diverticula, especially acquired diverticula, are rare. Surgery is indicated when a diverticulum is accompanied by complications such as stones, pyelonephritis, stenosis, and signs of malignancy. A 59-year-old woman visited our urology department with asymptomatic macrohematuria. Enhanced CT scan revealed a right ureteral diverticulum with a 16-mm diameter that contained two tiny stones inside. After 8 months, the size of these stones increased; therefore, the patient underwent laparoscopic resection of the ureteral diverticulum and end-to-end anastomosis of the ureter. Subsequent histopathology of the excised specimen revealed an acquired diverticulum. Follow-up intravenous pyelography showed adequate urine passage with only minor dilatation of the pelvis at 3 months after the operation. The laparoscopic approach is believed to be feasible for ureteral diverticula cases that require ureteral end-to-end anastomosis.