Non skeletal causes of back pain include vascular {Abdominal aortic aneurysm,
aortic or vascular dissection},
renal { infection or calculi},
pancreatic,
intestinal {appendix diverticular disease,
obstruction},
muscular { psoas abnormalities},
gynaecological .
These causes are common in older patients,
although it can occur in younger patients,
Plain films,
ultrasound scanning,
CT scans and in some cases MRI will help exclude the non skeletal causes of back pain and influence patient management
Case 1: Patient with recurrent chest and back pain,
mainly on the left.
Plain radiographs showed opacification in the left lower lobe.
CT Chest reveals a Intralobar pulmonary sequestration
Case 2: Male patient with sudden onset of back and flank pain,
CT KUB was requested,
which revealed right lower lobe consolidation
Case 3: 70 year old man presented with back pain and multiple skin nodules on the back,
biopsy proven cutaneous metastatic lesions from lung primary.
{ arrows}
Case 4: Sudden and severe epigastric pain in an young patients: acute pancreatitis.
Case 5: Sudden back pain and left flank pain in a female patient following hysteroscopy: Left ovarian vein thrombus { arrows}
Case 6: Sudden back and interscapular pain in an young man excercising in the gym: Standford Type B aortic dissection
Case 7: 80 year old man with ongoing back pain,
develops acute back and flank pain: CT shows a large AAA with aorto-caval fistula.
Case 8: 76 year old female with ongoing back pain and low haemoglobin: chronically leaking saccular aneurysm of the abdominal aorta.
Case 9: 40 year old female patient with twinging and "irritation" on the right flank over the past few days: Ultrasound and CT revealed sponateous rupture of a renal angiomyolipoma
Case 10: Sudden back and right side pain in a 65 year old male: Spontaneous haemorrhage of the right adrenal with surrounding fluid,
right basal collapse & effusion
Case 11: Retroperitoneal fibrosis
Case 12: Young adult with recurrent right flank and back pain: CT reveals a fairly long retrocaecal appendix {arrow} extending up to the level of the liver.
Case 13: Young adult with right flank and back pain with pain in the right groin : Iliopsoas abscess
Case 14: 50 year man with no history of trauma,
back a pain and lumbar swelling: soft tissue mass in the lumbar region,
likely haematoma {? trivial trauma}
Case 15: Two different elderly patients on anticoagulation therapy presented with flank and back pain: spontaneous retroperitoneal haemorrhage