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We appreciate the interest of and comments by Park et al. Nutcracker syndrome is certainly an under-recognized cause of hematuria in children. It was noted that left renal venography is the most accurate modality to identify nutcracker syndrome, and it was concluded that renal Doppler ultrasonography should be considered as an initial screening tool in children with hematuria. We agree with this opinion; however, we would like to make additional comments.
We described nutcracker syndrome as an uncommon but under-recognized cause of hematuria in children. Yang et al. also consider nutcracker syndrome as a rare clinical condition [3]. Our case report is an attempt for physicians to consider this diagnosis, especially in the emergency department, when evaluating children with hematuria, especially hematuria associated with abdominal pain.
We agree with the opinion of ultrasonography being the initial investigation in children with isolated hematuria. However, in the emergency department when patients present with undifferentiated abdominal pain, other alternative diagnoses should be considered. Computed tomography (CT) scans are helpful in identifying and excluding other causes of acute abdominal pain. Reports from emergency departments indicate the use of CT scan for the diagnosis of nutcracker syndrome [2]. The diagnostic value of CT scan is well established in the evaluation of nutcracker syndrome and is well correlated with renal venography and renocaval pressure gradient [1]. An important limitation of the use of ultrasound is that it is operator-dependent and may not be feasible in the emergency departments at all times.
References
Kim KW, Cho JY, Kim SH, Yoon JH, Kim DS, Chung JW, Park JH (2011) Diagnostic value of computed tomographic findings of nutcracker syndrome: correlation with renal venography and renocaval pressure gradients. Eur J Radiol 80(3):648–54
Sataa S, Chekib K, Riadh M, Hamza E (2012) Nutcracker syndrome as an incidental finding on computed tomography scan after blunt abdominal trauma. Tunis Med 90(2):192–5
Yang WJ, Liu YP, Yang FS (2007) Mesoaortic compression of the left renal vein revealed by multi-detector computed tomography: nutcracker syndrome. Emerg Med J 24(9):636
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Waseem, M., Upadhyay, R. Reply to the correspondence letter by Park et al. “Renal Doppler ultrasonography in the diagnosis of nutcracker syndrome”. Eur J Pediatr 172, 137 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-012-1860-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-012-1860-z