Flank Pain: Causes & Reasons

Warning: Do not use in emergencies, if pregnant, if under 18, or as a substitute for a doctor’s advice or diagnosis. Learn more

Possible Causes for Flank Pain

Urinary Tract Infection

A 40-year-old female presented in severe sepsis and complaining of flank pain. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

With that being said, if you develop signs of a kidney infection, including flank pain, nausea, or vomiting, you need to see a doctor immediately. [verywell.com]

Figure 1: A 45‑year‑old diabetic male presented with high grade fever flank pain and dysuria. [doi.org]

Renal Colic

We sought to examine the validity of this score in younger, noninfected flank pain patients. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

The case of a patient with acute onset of flank pain and hematuria is presented. Initial therapy was directed toward relief of pain believed to be caused by renal colic. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

[…] explain the patient’s flank pain and presentation. [pubs.rsna.org]

Nephrolithiasis

Several months later, the patient developed flank pain on the opposite side. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

The authors review appropriate workup and treatment for patients presenting with signs and symptoms of flank pain consistent with renal colic. [mdedge.com]

A 36-year-old man was admitted to hospital due to right flank pain as a result of ureteral stones. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Pyelonephritis

Physical examination revealed right-sided flank pain and a right-sided unilateral renal mass. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Other diagnostic findings are leukocytosis, CVAT or flank pain, and WBC casts in the urine. [getthediagnosis.org]

—55-year-old woman with left-sided flank pain. Unenhanced CT scan reveals severe periureteral stranding. [doi.org]

Acute Pyelonephritis

A 60-year-old diabetic woman was admitted with a 3 day history of fever and left flank pain due to acute pyelonephritis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Clinically, it is difficult to distinguish between acute pyelonephritis and RVT because both present with fever, flank pain, and hematuria. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

She was admitted to our hospital due to fever and flank pain which had developed 10 days earlier. Urinalysis showed many WBC and urine culture revealed Escherichia coli. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Ureterolithiasis

And, over half of the 291 patients identified as having “flank pain” didn’t receive any documented imaging. [emlitofnote.com]

pain. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

—55-year-old woman with left-sided flank pain. Unenhanced CT scan reveals severe periureteral stranding. [ajronline.org]

Renal Pelvic Calculus

Spiral computerized tomography in the evaluation of acute flank pain: A replacement for excretory urography. J Urol 1997;157:2071-3. 10. [wajradiology.org]

Presentation Left flank pain Patient Data Age: 25 Gender: Male 2 case questions available Loading images... [radiopaedia.org]

Ureteral calculi in patients with flank pain: Correlation of plain radiography with unenhanced helical CT. Radiology 1997;204:27-31. 11. [wajradiology.org]

Hydronephrosis

PURPOSE: Maternal hydronephrosis may cause flank pain during pregnancy. We aimed to investigate the association between maternal hydronephrosis and flank pain intensity. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

RESULTS: Of the 472 patients, 292 (62%) had preoperative hydronephrosis and 121 (26%) presented with flank pain. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

UTI and pain may also occur. Call your health care provider if you have ongoing or severe flank pain, or fever, or if you think you may have hydronephrosis. [nlm.nih.gov]

Chronic Pyelonephritis

Chronic Pyelonephritis may come to attention during an episode of acute pyelonephritis with its attendant constitutional symptoms, flank pain, bacteruria, and pyuria. [pathwaymedicine.org]

Torsion : Ovarian and testicular torsion can present with flank pain. [emdocs.net]

In children, symptoms such as fever, lethargy, flank pain, and nausea may be present. [lecturio.com]

Angiomyolipoma

Cross sectional imaging of twenty five years female patient with tuberous sclerosis presenting with right flank pain, fever and anemia showing A. [oatext.com]

These tumors demonstrate a slight female predominance and can present either incidentally or with symptoms, commonly flank pain and hematuria. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

A 38-year-old woman presented with a dry cough and left flank pain. She had a right nephrectomy for renal angiomyolipoma 17 years ago. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Ureteral Stenosis

Several months later the flank pain recurred, and IVP now showed a calcified stone midway in the left ureter. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

A 10-month follow-up showed resolution of hydronephrosis with no flank pain. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

pain. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Ureteral Obstruction

A 45-year-old male admitted to our clinic of symptoms with moderate left flank pain and intermittant macroscopic hematuria. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Both patients had flank pain, elevated creatinine, and signs of complete obstruction on CT scan. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

A 62-year-old woman presented with a 2-week history of left flank pain and high fever, but no abdominal pain. She had forgotten the use of an IUD. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Renal Papillary Necrosis

We describe a patient with bilateral RPN and EPN caused by Candida tropicalis, who suffered from recurrent hematuria, flank pain, acute fulminant renal failure, and obstruction [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

[…] or intermittent flank pain Ultrasonography Hydronephrosis, megaureter Renal cell carcinoma Triad of flank pain, gross hematuria, and renal mass is the classic presentation [aafp.org]

Calyceal or ureteral obstruction by sloughed papillae manifest with flank pain, hematuria and varying degrees of renal impairment. [radiopaedia.org]

Renal Hematoma

The most common symptoms of renal hematoma are severe flank pain and hematuria. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

She complained of right flank pain and fever and the findings following abdominal echography, computerized tomography (CT) scan and renal angiography agreed with a diagnosis [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

I also have an ovarian cyst which they are removing this week to see if my flank pain could be referred pain from that. [csn.cancer.org]

Subcapsular Kidney Rupture

[…] or intermittent flank pain Ultrasonography Hydronephrosis, megaureter Renal cell carcinoma Triad of flank pain, gross hematuria, and renal mass is the classic presentation [aafp.org]

Flank pain results from hemorrhage into a cyst with consequent distention of the renal capsule, whereas hematuria results from rupture of a cyst into the collecting system [mdedge.com]

A right-sided flank pain developed at the postoperative second hour during follow-up. [omicsonline.org]

Traumatic Rupture of the Kidney

Fever, dropping blood count or flank pain are indications for repeated imaging (ultrasonography or CT). [urology-textbook.com]

Hematuria was the most frequent manifestation (21 patients [84%]), followed by flank pain (17 patients [68%]). [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Acute hydronephrosis is one of the most common causes of severe flank pain in pregnancy. [doi.org]

Kidney Contusion

In cases of isolated kidney injury, there is often pain in the flank area, between the upper edge of the hip and the lower rib cage. [livestrong.com]

Fever, dropping blood count or flank pain are indications for repeated imaging (ultrasonography or CT). [urology-textbook.com]

pain + Grey-Turner sign - Ecchymosis in flank No acute abdominal signs Possible bony crepitus due to rib fx 7 Kidney contusions& lacerations Signs & symptoms of Kidney injury [slideplayer.com]

Ureteral Carcinoma

The second most frequently reported complaint is a flank pain, observed in 1 in 5 patients diagnosed with a ureteral carcinoma. [symptoma.com]

He presented with bilateral flank pain accompanied by nausea, vomiting and oliguria. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

The clinical signs were hematuria and flank pain. Urine cytology and IVU were diagnostic in a limited number of cases. Retrograde pyelography was very helpful. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Nephroptosis

A 22-year-old female was referred with right flank pain and recurrent urinary infections. Flank pain was persistent while standing and relieved upon supine position. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

However, nephroptosis can be characterized by violent attacks of colicky flank pain, nausea, chills, hypertension, hematuria and proteinuria. [en.wikipedia.org]

Their symptoms were right flank pain, gross hematuria, or both. The mean body mass index was 18.7. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Renal Pelvis Transitional Cell Carcinoma

He also presented with intermittent, blunt, right flank pain and total gross hematuria lasting 1 year. He was a nonsmoker with no history of urolithiasis. [synapse.koreamed.org]

pain and hematuria. [slideshare.net]

References: [10] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [11] [3] [12] [4] Pathology Differential diagnoses Other causes of hematuria and flank pain References: [13] [18] The differential [amboss.com]

Renal Abscess

We emphasize the need to obtain an abdominal ultrasound scan and computed tomography scan in patients with abdominal or flank pain, and laboratory evidences of infection to [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

We present a case of renal abscess for Aspergillus fumigatus in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who complained of flank pain and fever. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

A 14-year-old girl with acute lymphocytic leukemia complained of right flank pain and fever. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Perinephric Abscess

A 53-year-old Chinese premenopausal woman presented with intermittent right flank pain for many years. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

The patient complained about night sweats and fatigue, he had no flank pain or fever. With kind permission of Prof. Dr. K. Bohndorf, Augsburg. [urology-textbook.com]

pain and signs of sepsis, and are known to discharge to the skin. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Renal Cell Carcinoma

Indicators of symptomatic presentations include flank pain, flank mass, varicocele, constitutional symptoms, paraneoplastic syndromes and bone pain related to metastatic disease [jmedicalcasereports.biomedcentral.com]

Symptoms Patients at risk should be precautious and report unusual symptoms such as blood in the urine, flank pain or a palpable mass in the abdomen or flank. [symptoma.com]

Tumor is presented with characteristic findings of flank pain, gross hematuria, and palpable mass. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Renal Infarction

Patients with fever, flank pain, and dysuria frequently are encountered in the emergency department. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Severe acute abdominal or flank pain algorithm is seen on Schema 1 [ 14 ]. [omicsonline.org]

Acute renal infarction is a well known, although relatively unfrequent, cause of flank pain resistant to administration of spasmolytic and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Renal Embolism

A 31-year-old female was admitted with sudden onset severe right flank pain, vomiting, anorexia, and hematuria. [sjkdt.org]

A 37-year-old man who underwent total aortic arch replacement owing to aortic dissection, presented with a 3-h history of fever, chills, and acute right-sided flank pain. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Immediately afterwards, her flank pain dramatically resolved and the procedure was stopped. [thefreelibrary.com]

Renal Artery Thrombosis

The only presenting symptom was left flank pain and no predisposing factors could be found on clinical or laboratory examination. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

The clinical hallmarks include epigastric or flank pain and proteinuria, or hematuria following blunt trauma to the back or abdomen. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

CASE REPORT: A 63-year-old male patient with renal-artery thrombosis presented 48 hours after the onset of acute nonradiating flank pain. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Adrenal Infarction

[…] sudden-onset severe left flank and upper quadrant pain. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

[…] or flank pain Confusion, loss of consciousness, or coma Dehydration Dizziness or light-headedness Fatigue, severe weakness Headache High fever Loss of appetite Low blood [adrenal-insufficiency.nz]

A 20-year-old woman, gravida 1 para 0, presented at 27 4/7 weeks of gestation with sudden-onset right upper quadrant and flank pain. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Renal Angiomyolipoma

Shock due to a grave haemorrhage from AML rupture is called Wunderlich syndrome that is clinically characterized by the Lenk's triad: acute flank pain, a flank mass and hypovolemic [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Flank pain and haematuria may be considered not important in emergency department if underlying cause is not kept in mind. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Cross sectional imaging of twenty five years female patient with tuberous sclerosis presenting with right flank pain, fever and anemia showing A. [oatext.com]

Ureteral Injury

On postoperative day 14 she developed left flank pain. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrated a left perinephric fluid collection. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Such injuries should be considered when there is delayed abdominal or flank pain, especially in children. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

RESULTS: Patients presented with fever, hematuria, flank pain, or peritonitis between 3 and 33 days postoperatively. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Ovarian Vein Syndrome

A 41-year-old woman complained with right flank pain, especially with a recumbent position. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

The antiperistalsis was related to the patient intermittent right flank pain. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

The patient presented with a 12-month history of right flank pain and a right abdominal mass. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]