Pelvic plexus compression due to a uterine leiomyoma in a woman with acute urinary retention: a new hypothesis

Acute urinary retention (AUR) in women is an uncommon occurrence described by the International Continence Society (ICS) as a painful, palpable, or perceptible bladder when the patient is unable to pass urine. Contrarily to men, AUR in women is not usually due to any obstructive process. Neurologic causes are the most common reason for AUR in reproductive-age women. A few case reports have been published concerning women suffering from gynecological pathology and AUR, and they propose extrinsic compression of the urinary tract. In the case we report, AUR pathophysiology was compression of the pelvic plexus by a giant uterine leiomyoma. An electromyogram displayed motor polyradiculopathy of S1 and S2 nerve roots, and the patient was unable to urinate due to an uncontractible bladder.