What causes kidney hydronephrosis?
Disease description:
My father has been experiencing lower back pain recently, and he has some difficulty using the restroom. When he went to the hospital for examination, they told us he has hydronephrosis. He never had this condition before. I would like to ask what causes hydronephrosis?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
The causes of hydronephrosis (renal pelvic dilation) are varied and mainly include the following:
1. **Urinary tract obstruction**: Conditions such as urinary stones (e.g., kidney stones, ureteral stones), genitourinary tumors (e.g., renal cancer, bladder cancer), and benign prostatic hyperplasia can all potentially cause urinary tract obstruction, leading to hydronephrosis. This is one of the most common causes.
2. **Congenital developmental abnormalities**: Anatomical abnormalities such as ureteropelvic junction stenosis, ectopic ureteral orifice, or ureterocele may obstruct urine outflow and result in hydronephrosis.
3. **Dynamic obstruction**: Certain congenital factors, such as a lack of anti-reflux mechanism in the ureter, may cause urine to flow backward from the bladder into the kidneys, resulting in hydronephrosis.
4. **Tuberculosis**: Tuberculosis can secondarily cause ureteral stricture and obstruction. It may also impair the anti-reflux mechanism at the ureteral orifice, leading to urine reflux and subsequent hydronephrosis.
