CT in the diagnosis of renal trauma

Computed tomography (CT) is frequently employed as the initial diagnostic study in patients with known or suspected renal trauma, especially in large trauma centers where multiple-system injuries are common. In our 3-year experience, which encompasses over 2,500 CT scans for abdominal trauma, the following traumatic renal lesions were identified: renal contusion, small and large subcapsular hematomas, laceration, complete laceration, ureteropelvic junction disruption, fractured kidney, shattered kidney with and without an intact renal capsule, renal vein injury, renal artery thrombosis, avulsion, and trauma to the abnormal kidney. The CT findings and clinical features and management of each lesion are reviewed.