Intermittent hydroephrosis. A cause of abdominal pain

Intermittent hydronephrosis may appear as acute abdominal pain. Between episodes of pain, the patient may be asymptomatic, and the intravenous urogram usually will be normal. The condition is diagnosed from intravenous urograms taken either during an episode of pain or after hydronephrosis has been precipitated by hydration. There are many causes of intermittent hydronephrosis; however, the closed renal pelvis and nondistensible ureteropelvic junction are important factors in nearly all cases. Pyeloplasty is the best treatment and is usually curative.