Urinary Obstructions

Causes of Urinary Obstructions

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The causes of urinary obstructions are as varied as their possible locations. Some common causes of urinary obstructions are:

• Congenital (at birth) defects along the urinary tract, including kinks in the ureters, or an abnormallly shaped urethra
• Scarring in the urinary tract resulting from an infection or injury
• Stones in the urinary tract, including:
  • Kidney stones
  • Ureteral stones
  • Bladder stones
• Urinary tract tumors or retroperitoneal fibrosis (Ormond's disease)
• Enlarged prostate, benign prostate hyperplasia or benign prostatic hypertrophy
• Cancers that directly affect the urinary tract:
  • Bladder cancer
  • Kidney cancer
  • Prostate cancer
• Cancers that can indirectly cause obstructions:
  • Colon cancer
  • Cervical cancer
  • Uterine cancer
• Any cancer that spreads (metastasizes)