Renal allograft rupture: diagnostic role of ultrasound

To evaluate the diagnostic role of ultrasound in spontaneous renal allograft rupture we reviewed 18 cases observed in our centre in 10 years. Ultrasound studies were performed immediately before surgery in 15 cases. Renal allograft rupture occurred during the first 3 weeks after transplantation in 17 cases (94%). Clinical findings were consistent with previous reports. The diagnosis was confirmed by surgical exploration in 17 cases, and by necropsy in the remaining one. Nine patients were treated by corsetage and eight by graft nephrectomy, while one patient died before surgery. Acute rejection was present in nine cases, and severe acute tubular necrosis in five; no renal tissue was available for histological study in four patients. On ultrasound examination, perirenal haematoma was the most frequent finding, while subcapsular/intrarenal haematoma or findings suggesting rejection or urinary tract obstruction were less frequently observed. In six cases, disruption of the white linear echoes of the capsule of the graft could be seen; this finding has not been described previously. Ultrasound has a definite role in presurgical evaluation of suspected renal transplant rupture.