[Retroperitoneal fibrosis as the etiology for recent onset of abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting--a rare and easily missed differential diagnosis].

Retroperitoneal fibrosis is a rare disease with unspecific symptomatic signs. Mortality rates are high with a 10-year mortality rate of 10 to 20%. We describe a case of a 55 year old woman with retroperitoneal fibrosis and discuss clinical findings, symptomatic signs, diagnosis, and treatment of this rare disease.