Objectives: To report the radiological findings of retroperitoneal paragangliomas.
Methods: A patient who presents with colic pain and undergoes intravenous urography and CT scan.
Results: KUB x-ray revealed an increase of radiodensity on the left flank. The urography showed a partially obstructive urinary lithiasis in the proximal third of the left ureter with a mass effect laterally displacing pelvis and ureter. The study was completed with an i.v. contrast abdominal CT scan which showed a left para-aortic solid mass under the kidney with heterogeneous contrast uptake.
Conclusions: The correlation of symptoms and catecholamine levels is the best way to guide the etiological diagnosis after CT scan.