Nutcracker phenomenon: a new diagnosis method of multislice computed tomography angiography

Objective: To explore the pathogenesis of the nutcracker phenomenon and to describe its new diagnostic techniques. Methods: Computerized tomographic Angiography（CTA） was used to compare the anatomical relations of the left renal vein with the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery in patients with the nutcracker phenomenon and in a control group of 10 healthy kidney donors. Results: CTA examine showed the angles between the superior mesenteric artery and the aorta were（（39.3±4.3））° in the patient group and（90±10）° in the control group respectively（P＜0.05）.The distance between the superior mesenteric artery and the aorta at the level of the left renal vein was（12±1.8）mm in the control group and（3.1±0.2）mm in the patient group respectively（P＜0.05）. Conclusion: Reconstruction imaging of renal vein by means of CTA revealed that patients with he nutcracker phenomenon due to compression of the left renal vein between the abdominal aorta and the superior mesenteric artery and,therefore,might be a useful alternative imaging technique instead of conventional examinations.