An Incidental Finding of Retrocaval Ureter Causing Hydroureteronephrosis

Retrocaval ureter is a rare, congenital anomaly of the inferior vena cava. Due to an abnormal process in embryogenesis, the ureter descends posterior to the inferior vena cava. Although the anomaly can be found in pediatric patients, it most commonly manifests symptoms between the third and fourth decade of life that are typically due to ureteric obstruction, such as hydronephrosis. Retrocaval ureter can be asymptomatic and may be the reason for unreported cases and low incidence in the world. In this case, we reviewed the record of a patient with the diagnosis of retrocaval ureter incidentally found during admission for a lower gastrointestinal bleed.