Spontaneous rupture of ureter

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Oncology

Background:

• Spontaneous ureteral rupture is a rare condition.
• The term 'spontaneous' implies an event without a preceding cause, which is debated in medical literature.

Observation:

• A patient presented with ureteral rupture without obstruction or stones.
• The patient also had penile squamous cell carcinoma and infected inguinal lymph nodes.

Findings:

• Literature review indicates all reported cases of spontaneous ureteral rupture had an underlying pathological process.
• The term 'spontaneous' is considered a misnomer for ureteral rupture.

Implications:

• Ureteral rupture should be classified as either 'traumatic' or 'nontraumatic'.
• This reclassification aids in accurate diagnosis and understanding of ureteral injury etiology.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the spectrum of nontraumatic ureteral rupture causes.