A case of spontaneous perirenal hemorrhage secondary to polyarteritis nodosa.

A case report of a patient who develops a spontaneous perinephric hemorrhage secondary to polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is described. The diagnosis of PAN was delayed in this patient somewhat due to a previously unrecognized relation to a recent perihepatic hemorrhage. Unenhanced CT findings in this case were nonspecific, but follow up angiography demonstrated characteristic subsegmental and interlobular renal artery aneurysms. Spontaneous perinephric hemorrhage is an uncommon complication of PAN however an elevated level of suspicion regarding the diagnosis of a systemic vasculitis should be considered in any case of spontaneous renal, hepatic, or gastrointestinal hemorrhage.