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Korean Journal of Radiology logoLink to Korean Journal of Radiology
. 2019 Oct 4;20(12):1627–1637. doi: 10.3348/kjr.2019.0084

Doppler US and CT Diagnosis of Nutcracker Syndrome

Seung Hyup Kim 1,2,✉
PMCID: PMC6923211  PMID: 31854150

Abstract

Nutcracker syndrome (NCS) is a syndrome caused by compression of the left renal vein (LRV), between the abdominal aorta and the superior mesenteric artery, resulting in hypertension of the LRV and hematuria. Doppler ultrasonography (US) has been commonly used for the diagnosis of NCS. However, several technical issues, such as Doppler angle and sample volume, need to be considered to obtain satisfactory results. In addition, morphologic changes of the LRV and a jetting phenomenon across the aortomesenteric portion of the LRV on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) are diagnostic clues of NCS. With proper Doppler US and CECT, NCS can be diagnosed noninvasively.

Keywords: Nutcracker syndrome, Left renal vein, Renal vein hypertension, Doppler US, Contrast-enhanced CT

INTRODUCTION

The first description of left renal vein (LRV) entrapment was published in 1950 (1). After the abdominal aorta and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) were described as two arms of a nutcracker, the condition was named nutcracker syndrome (NCS) by de Schepper in 1972 (2,3). The mechanism of NCS is similar to duodenal obstruction in SMA syndrome (4).

NCS can be suspected from the clinical history and a urine erythrocyte morphology of predominantly isomorphic erythrocytes. A cystoscopic finding of left-sided hematuria is a supporting evidence for NCS. However, because hematuria is often intermittent, it is sometimes not detected even when cystoscopy is performed.

Various imaging modalities are used for NCS diagnosis, including Doppler ultrasonography (US), contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); however, diagnosis of NCS is challenging because the diagnostic algorithm and criteria are not well established (5). Although a pressure gradient of more than 3 mm Hg between the LRV and the inferior vena cava (IVC) is regarded as the most definitive diagnostic criterion for NCS, it is not clear whether the invasive procedure needed to measure the pressure gradient is truly required for the diagnosis of NCS (5,6).

In 1996, we reported that Doppler US is useful for making a diagnosis of NCS noninvasively in adults (7), and a similar result was later also reported from our institution for the diagnosis of NCS in children (8). CECT is also commonly used as an imaging study for the evaluation of patients with hematuria of unknown causes. In 2011, we reported that findings of LRV on CECT of the kidney may be useful for diagnosing NCS (9).

The purpose of this article is to review the usefulness of Doppler US, with its technical considerations, and CECT findings of the LRV in patients with NCS.

Nutcracker Syndrome

NCS refers to a syndrome caused by significant compression of LRV between the abdominal aorta and SMA, resulting in hypertension of the LRV and hematuria due to rupture of the thin-walled veins close to the calyceal fornices (10,11). NCS typically causes intermittent gross hematuria but may be accompanied by microscopic hematuria, proteinuria, or left flank pain, without gross hematuria (12,13,14,15,16,17).

The term “NCS” should not be used interchangeably with the term “nutcracker phenomenon” (NCP), which is simply a phenomenon of aortomesenteric (AM) compression of the LRV (10,18). There have been two reports regarding NCP (19,20), which showed that asymptomatic compression of the AM portion of the LRV is a very common phenomenon. The incidence of the diameter of the LRV lateral to the aorta being more than 50% greater than that at the AM portion was 72% in one report (19) and 51.3% in the other (20). NCS is a term that should be used only when symptoms are present in addition to the NCP (10,18).

The incidence of NCS is unknown. However, considering the high incidence of unexplained hematuria and proteinuria and the high incidence of asymptomatic compression of the AM portion of the LRV, we may assume that NCS may not be a rare entity and the prevalence may be higher than previously thought (7,19,20,21,22). NCS typically occurs in young and slender patients because of the scanty amount of intra-abdominal fat and the narrow angle between the aorta and SMA (Fig. 1). However, NCS may also occur in non-slender patients if the LRV is stretched over the aorta (Fig. 2) (23).

Fig. 1. 18-year-old male patient with NCS.

Fig. 1

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A. Transverse US of LRV shows compression of LRV at AM portion (arrow). B. Sagittal US of aorta and SMA shows slit-like LRV (arrows), compressed between two vessels. C. Spectral Doppler US of LRV at AM portion shows clear venous flow spectrum, with PV of 112 cm/s. D. Left renal venogram shows compression of LRV at AM portion (arrows). Pressure gradient measured across AM portion of LRV was 4 mm Hg. AM = aortomesenteric, LRV = left renal vein, NCS = nutcracker syndrome, PV = peak velocity, SMA = superior mesenteric artery, US = ultrasonography

Fig. 2. 72-year-old female patient with NCS.

Fig. 2

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A. CECT scan shows LRV (arrows) stretched over aorta, without any compression between aorta and SMA. B. Spectral Doppler US of LRV measured at AM portion shows PV of 137 cm/s. CECT = contrast-enhanced CT

Several variations of NCS are associated with anatomic variations of the LRV. Retroaortic LRV, where the retroaortic portion of the circumaortic LRV may be compressed between the aorta and vertebra, can result in posterior NCS (Fig. 3) (24,25,26,27,28). NCS may also occur in patients with a left-sided IVC or double IVC, where the LRV is not compressed anatomically, but the prominent flow from the lower extremity may cause functional obstruction of venous flow from the left kidney (Fig. 4). Rare variations of NCS also include NCS caused by the left testicular artery arching over the LRV (29) and right-sided NCS due to compression of the right renal vein in pregnant women (30).

Fig. 3. 49-year-old female patient with posterior NCS.

Fig. 3

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CECT images in early cortical phase show retroarotic LRV (arrows) (A) compression between abdominal aorta and vertebra. Jetting phenomenon of contrast-opacified venous flow (arrowheads) (B) into IVC can be seen. C. Spectral Doppler US of retroaortic LRV shows high PV of 94.8 cm/s. IVC = inferior vena cava

Fig. 4. NCS in 20-year-old male patient with left-sided IVC.

Fig. 4

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A. CECT image shows well-preserved lumen in LRV (arrows), without any compression between aorta and SMA. B, C. Coronal CECT images show left-sided IVC crossing midline and continuous with right-sided suprarenal IVC. Note contrast-opacified venous flow from LRV (arrows), which is compressed by non-opacified venous flow from lower part of body thought left-sided IVC (asterisks). D. Spectral Doppler US performed at midline-crossing of vessel reveals high PV of 145 cm/s. In this patient, LRV is not compressed anatomically, but venous flow from left kidney is hemodynamically impeded by dominant venous flow from lower extremity through left-sided IVC.

Diagnosis of Nutcracker Syndrome

Repeated hematuria, either gross or microscopic, in an otherwise healthy patient is a disturbing and perplexing problem, both to the patients and the physicians, because extensive diagnostic procedures are necessary to establish a confirmative diagnosis (7). In this context, suggesting NCS as a likely cause of unexplained hematuria is important in the management of such patients, because it allows a more relaxed work-up of hematuria.

The pressure gradient between the LRV and IVC can be measured directly through invasive catheterization. In the normal population, the pressure gradient between the LRV and IVC is less than 1 mm Hg. If this pressure gradient exceeds 3 mm Hg, a definitive diagnosis of NCS can be made (6,31).

NCS may be suspected noninvasively on the basis of a causative anatomical change, i.e., compression of the LRV between the aorta and SMA. Such anatomical changes can be seen using any three-dimensional imaging technique, such as US, CT, or MRI (7,8,9). Previous studies using US have compared the diameters of the LRV at the renal hilar and AM portions (7,8). In our early report using US (7), the mean ratio of the diameter differed significantly between NCS and normal groups: 5.0 ± 2.3 in the NCS group (range, 2.6–11.0) and 3.3 ± 1.1 in the normal group (range, 2.0–6.0). In two CT studies, the mean ratio was also significantly different between the NCS group and control group (11,32). However, in a later study that recruiting pediatric subjects, the mean ratio was not significantly different between the two groups: 5.3 ± 1.4 in the NCS group and 4.7 ± 1.9 in the control group (8). Although the diameter ratio was significantly different in three of the four aforementioned studies (7,8,11,32), we should keep in mind that there are situations in which applying a diameter ratio criterion in clinical practice is difficult, especially when diameters are measured using US. This is because compression by the US transducer, to demonstrate the LRV better, may cause additional compression of the LRV.

Another anatomic parameter that can be used for the diagnosis of NCS is the angle between the abdominal aorta and the SMA, i.e., the AM angle that can be measured in the sagittal imaging plane. A normal AM angle is reported to have a wide range, between 45° and 90° (22,33,34,35). In NCS patients, the AM angle is significantly narrower than that in the normal population. However, because there is also a significant overlap between NCS and normal groups, it is difficult to use this angle in practice (36). In addition, an AM angle may differ significantly according to the position of the patient, i.e., supine or upright (37).

Doppler Ultrasonography

Because Doppler US may be the easiest way to measure blood flow velocity in the body, it can be used for the diagnosis of NCS. In our previous studies (7,8), the mean peak velocity (PV) of the LRV was 14.2 ± 2.5 cm/s at the renal hilar portion and 110.7 ± 35.8 cm/s at the AM portion in NCS adults (7), and 21.5 ± 5.0 cm/s at the renal hilar portion and 139.6 ± 31.0 cm/s at the AM portion in NCS children (8). In the normal control group, however, it was 18.6 ± 3.7 cm/s at the renal hilar portion and 50.9 ± 27.9 cm/s at the AM portion in adults (7), and 21.2 ± 5.2 cm/s at the renal hilar portion and 72.4 ± 24.4 cm/s at the AM portion in children (8). In those two studies, we suggested that the best PV ratio cut-off values for the differentiation of the NCS from the normal group was 5.0 in adults, with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 94% (7), while it was 4.7 in children, with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 90% (8). Therefore, if the PV of the LRV at the AM portion is approximately 5 times higher than that at the hilar portion in both adults and children, we may suspect NCS.

Estimation of Pressure Gradient from Doppler Ultrasonography

In a healthy population, there is no remarkable pressure gradient (it is usually less than 1 mm Hg) between the LRV and the IVC (25,38). Therefore, if the pressure gradient between the LRV and IVC is more than 3 mm Hg, a diagnosis of NCS can be made. Even though the pressure gradient between the two vessels needs to be determined by invasive catheterization, we may estimate the pressure gradient theoretically from the flow velocity obtained through Doppler US. For Doppler US, Bernoulli's principle of continuity for ideal and incompressible liquid may be applicable. The relevant equation is (P1 + 1 / 2 [ρv12] + ρgh1 = P2 + 1 / 2 [ρv22] + ρgh2) where P is pressure, v is velocity, h is elevation, ρ is density, and g is acceleration due to gravity. For blood in the human body, because h is negligible, we may simplify the equation to (P1 + 1 / 2 [ρv12] = P2 + 1 / 2 [ρv22]). Consequently, this equation may be changed to (P1 − P2 = 1 / 2 ρ [v12 − v22]) where P1 − P2 is the pressure gradient between the two points. Because 1 mm Hg is 1333 g/cm/s2 and the density of blood (ρ) is approximately 1.06 g/cm3, we may calculate a theoretical pressure gradient in mm Hg unit using two PV values at the hilar and AM portions of the LRV. However, we should be aware that, in NCS patients, there may be some differences between a theoretically estimated pressure gradient and the true measured gradient, because of collateral venous pathways.

Practical Tips for Doppler Ultrasonography

An accurate measurement of the PV of the LRV at the hilar and AM portion is an integral part of Doppler US-based diagnosis of NCS, but several technical issues need to be considered to obtain satisfactory results. The first tip for proper Doppler US scanning is optimization of the Doppler angle. It is easy to obtain a satisfactory Doppler spectrum at the hilar portion of the LRV, because the Doppler angle is usually within an optimal range between 30° and 60° (Fig. 5A, B). However, obtaining an optimal Doppler spectrum at the AM portion of the LRV is sometimes difficult. If the operator holds the US transducer in the usual transverse direction, the angle between the US beam and the AM portion of the LRV is approximately 90° (Fig. 5A). With this Doppler angle (i.e., 90°), it is almost impossible to obtain a clear Doppler spectrum and measurement errors become significant, even if a spectrum can be obtained. To obtain an optimal Doppler angle at the AM portion of the LRV, we should adjust the position and the direction of the transducer by slightly moving it to the left and rotating it counterclockwise, until the AM portion of the LRV is located in the left corner of the US image (Fig. 5C, D).

Fig. 5. Schematic drawing of Doppler US of LRV and spectral Doppler US images of LRV.

Fig. 5

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A. With usual position of US transducer in transverse plane, Doppler angle is optimal to obtain clear spectrum for hilar portion of LRV (H), while angle for AM portion of LRV is around 90°. Arrows indicate direction of blood flow and dotted lines indicate direction of ultrasound beam. B. Spectral Doppler US image of LRV obtained at AM portion shows noisy spectrum from aorta. Therefore, it is almost impossible to measure flow velocity in LRV. C. With slight shift of transducer to left and subtle counterclockwise rotation (curved arrow) until AM portion of LRV is located in left corner of US image, Doppler angle for AM portion of LRV can be adjusted. Arrows indicate direction of blood flow and dotted line indicates direction of ultrasound beam. D. Even with adjustment of Doppler angle, Doppler spectrum from LRV is still not clear, because LRV is not properly located due to small sample volume (arrow). E. In addition to adjustment of Doppler angle, increasing sample volume may help LRV be continuously included within sample volume between pulsating aorta and SMA. Arrows indicate direction of blood flow and dotted line indicates direction of ultrasound beam. F. Doppler spectrum from LRV now becomes optimal, with PV of approximately 150 cm/s.

The second tip is the optimal adjustment of the sample volume during Doppler US. Even though a proper Doppler angle is achieved by rotating the transducer, we may not obtain a satisfactory spectrum if a small sample volume is used. With a small sample volume, the target vessel (i.e., the AM portion of the LRV) may not be included within the sample volume due to pulsation of the aorta and SMA (Fig. 4B). Therefore, the sample volume should be wide enough to include the AM portion of the LRV between the pulsating aorta and SMA, throughout the entire cardiac cycle (Fig. 5E, F). Color Doppler US (CDUS) can sometimes be useful for the diagnosis of NCS, by showing bright colors of high velocity due to aliasing artifacts from the jetting flow immediately distal to the AM portion of the LRV (Fig. 6). The observation of a jetting flow on CDUS may also be helpful in determining the appropriate sample volume during spectral Doppler US.

Fig. 6. 17-year-old woman with NCS.

Fig. 6

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A. CECT scan shows compression of LRV between aorta and SMA. Note contrast-opacified venous flow along anterior non-dependent portion of IVC (arrows). B. Color Doppler US of LRV shows bright color flow signal (arrows) at AM portion of LRV due to aliasing artifacts caused by high flow velocity. C. Spectral Doppler US at AM portion of LRV shows PV of 140 cm/s.

Contrast-Enhanced CT

CECT is commonly used to evaluate patients with hematuria of unknown causes. Although NCS is one of the important causes of hematuria, the CT findings that may suggest NCS are not yet well established. In our previous report (9), various CT parameters, such as a beak sign, beak angle, LRV diameter ratio, and AM angle were analyzed as potential criteria for the diagnosis of NCS. Although the beak sign and LRV diameter ratio showed the highest diagnostic accuracy among those CT parameters, the LRV diameter ratio showed a lower sensitivity than the other parameters. Therefore, we suggested that beak sign can be considered as a practically useful feature in CT diagnosis of NCS (Fig. 7D).

Fig. 7. CECT of kidney in early cortical phase.

Fig. 7

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A. 45-year-old male without hematuria. CECT shows normal LRV without compression at AM portion and homogeneously opacified LRV and IVC. B, C. 17-year-old male with NCS. B. Doppler US of LRV at AM portion shows high PV (226 cm/s) of LRV. C. CECT in early cortical phase shows jetting of contrast-opacified venous flow (arrow) into IVC across AM portion of LRV. D. 28-year-old female with NCS. CECT shows severely compressed LRV at AM portion, with beak sign (arrows). Note jetting (open arrow) of contrast-opacified venous flow into IVC across AM portion of LRV.

Another important CT feature for the diagnosis of NCS is a contrast-jetting phenomenon across the AM portion of the LRV in the early cortical phase of CECT (Figs. 7D, 8). In this early phase of CECT, we can observe the flow of contrast-opacified blood from the LRV into the IVC. In a normal population, contrast-opacified blood moves across the AM portion of the LRV in a plug flow, or bulk movement pattern, to the IVC (Fig. 7A). In NCS patients, however, the LRV often shows significant compression, with a beak sign and jetting of contrast-opacified flow across the AM portion of the LRV (Figs. 7D, 8). Sometimes, there are phenomena of preferential contrast-opacified blood flow along the dependent posterior portion of the IVC in normal individuals (Fig. 7B, C). However, in NCS patients, preferential flow of contrast-opacified flow may occur along the anterior non-dependent portion of the IVC due to high flow velocity (Fig. 8C, D).

Fig. 8. Preferential flow of contrast-opacified venous flow on CECT.

Fig. 8

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A, B. 48-year-old male without hematuria. CECT images in early cortical phase show contrast-opacified venous flow into IVC along dependent posterior aspect of LRV and IVC (arrows). C, D. 82-year-old male with microscopic hematuria. CECT images in early cortical phase show contrast-opacified venous flow into IVC along non-dependent anterior aspect of LRV and IVC (arrows). PV of LRV at AM portion measured by Doppler US was 133 cm/s (not shown).

Nutcracker Syndrome Versus Varicocele or Pelvic Congestion Syndrome

Varicocele and pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) occur when there is reflux of blood flow into the gonadal veins due to incompetence of venous valve function in men and women, respectively. Although these conditions can occur with or without NCP, the conditions are more severe and prone to recur after treatment if NCP is associated with varicocele or PCS, due to the pressure gradient caused by NCP (39,40,41,42). Because gonadal veins are important collateral pathways for relieving hypertension of the LRV in NCS patients, NCS is uncommon in patients with varicocele or PCS (43). However, some NCS patients also have varicocele or PCS (Fig. 9). Furthermore, there are also cases in which both NCS and SMA syndrome co-exist (44,45).

Fig. 9. 59-year-old female with concurrent NCS and pelvic congestion syndrome.

Fig. 9

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Patient complained of persistent microscopic hematuria and chronic pelvic pain.

A, B. CECT images show compression of LRV at AM portion (arrows). C, D. CECT images in coronal plane show regurgitation of contrast-opacified LRV flow into left gonadal vein and pelvic veins (arrows).

Treatment of Nutcracker Syndrome

In young patients with NCS, symptoms usually improve as the patients get older and gains weight. A large amount of intra-abdominal fat may act as a cushion within the AM angle. In addition, when collateral venous pathways develop, renal venous hypertension may be relieved. Therefore, reassurance and general supportive care are treatment options in most cases with NCS (12,28,46). However, if hematuria is severe and persistent, surgical or other interventional management may be considered (5,28,35,38,47,48,49,50,51,52) although the effectiveness of these surgical or interventional treatments is not yet fully established.

CONCLUSION

NCS should be considered as a causative condition in patients with unexplained hematuria, either gross or microscopic. For the diagnosis of NCS, Doppler US can be helpful. For Doppler US, LRV should be carefully examined to measure the PV of the LRV at the AM portion. If the PV at the AM portion is higher than 5 times that at the hilar portion, we may suggest NCS as a cause of hematuria.

On CECT, there are several useful CT features that indicate significant LRV compression at the AM portion. These include the beak sign of the LRV and the contrast-jetting phenomenon. Invasive venography, for the measurement of the pressure gradient between the LRV and IVC, may not be necessary for the diagnosis of NCS if we utilize Doppler US and CECT properly in patients who are suspected to have NCS.

Footnotes

Conflicts of Interest: The author has no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

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