A case of unilateral giant hydronephrosis with renal insufficiency

Giant hydronephrosis, which is a symptomless enlargement of the abdomen, is an extremely rare condition in adults, with most cases being discovered in young-to-middle-aged people. We report a case of adult giant hydronephrosis accompanied by renal insufficiency, in which surgical repair was not performed because of the patient's poor cardiac function. Nephrostomy was performed and was followed with replacement of the nephrostomy tube every 2 weeks. For diagnostic purposes, ultrasonography and computerized tomography were preferable. A supplementary antegrade and retrograde pyelography was valuable in locating the stenosis.