A suggestive case report of posterior “Nutcracker syndrome” at computed tomography, and review of the literature

"Nutcracker syndrome" (NCS), also called left renal vein (LRV) entrapment syndrome, is a rare vascular compression disorder referring to extrinsic compression of the LRV by the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) anteriorly and the abdominal aorta (Ao) posteriorly. Posterior NCS is defined by the compression of the left renal vein between the abdominal aorta and a lumbar vertebral body. We describe the case in which a posterior NCS was observed and diagnosed for the first time during a computed tomography (CT) in a male patient who presented with persistent left abdominal flank pain and posterior abdominal pain, associated with micro-haematuria. CT had a key diagnostic tool in this rare condition.