Spontaneous Renal Artery Dissection: An Important Differential Diagnosis for Sudden Onset of Back Pain / General Medicine

Spontaneous renal artery dissection (SRAD) is uncommon and hence diagnosis is often delayed when ideally a quick one is preferred. We report a case of a 53 year-old male, with a known history of nephrolithiasis, who was admitted into hospital complaining of sudden onset left-sided back pain. Ultrasound showed a right-sided calculus instead of the expected left. A subsequent contrast computed tomography (CT) scan was done showing an infarcted segment of the left kidney. Further investigation with angiography and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) revealed the presence of two left renal arteries with the distal originating left renal artery having dissected.