PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Stefan Monev
TI  - Idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis: Prompt diagnosis preserves organ function
DP  - 2002 Feb 01
TA  - Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
PG  - 160--165
VI  - 69
IP  - 2
4099  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/69/2/160.short
4100  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/69/2/160.full
SO  - Cleve Clin J Med2002 Feb 01; 69
AB  - Prompt diagnosis of idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis improves chances of preserving renal function, preventing involvement of other organs, and relieving symptoms. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging helps to exclude secondary causes, but open biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosis. Management typically includes surgery (ureterolysis, stent placement), and drug treatment (corticosteroids), or a combination of both. However, no surgical or medical therapy has been tested in a randomized, controlled trial.