Hydronephrosis as Atypical Finding for Colorectal Cancer

Author : Tanya Edwina

Abstract : In clinical settings with non-specific symptoms, ultrasound is often used as first imaging modality in attempt to diagnose the cause. We present a case of unilateral hydronephrosis and hydroureter first thought to be due to urinary tract stones that were found due to malignancy in sigmoid colon that adheres to the ureter. The patient was a 25-year-old woman with abdominal pain and left flank pain since one month prior. Transabdominal ultrasound revealed left hydronephrosis and hydroureter thought to be caused by ureteric stone as well as septated cystic right ovarian mass. Stent placement did not relieve the symptom, and the patient is then planned for laparoscopic cystectomy. Subsequent contrast enhanced CT scan revealed irregular thickening of sigmoid colon which adhered to left ureter, multiple regional lymph nodes in sigmoid and inferior mesenteric region, multiple metastatic nodes in the lungs, and lytic lesions in vertebrae bodies, consistent with advanced metastatic malignancy. CT scan proved to be better modality to assess the abdomen as a whole, especially in patients with non-specific symptoms.

Keywords : Hydronephrosis, colorectal cancer, ultrasound, CT scan.

Conference Name : International Conference on Radiology and Abdominal Imaging (ICORAI - 26)

Conference Place : Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Conference Date : 23rd Jan 2026