[CT in hepatic injuries]

Twenty-one patients with hepatic injuries from blunt abdominal trauma were examined by Computed Tomography (CT). CT findings were correlated with those of plain X-ray films (5), radionuclide scanning (5), US (8), angiography (2), and with the findings of laparoscopy (2), exploratory laparotomy (6), and autopsy (2). CT well defines entity and severity of hepatic injuries, easily distinguishing minor from major ones. Moreover CT, by allowing the measurement of attenuation values, allows the various components of traumatic lesions (blood, clots, necrosis) to be recognized. CT is also useful in monitoring the healing patterns and in following the patients for late complications--e.g., abscess and biloma. After comparing it with other radiological investigation techniques, the authors emphasize the role of CT in defining both type and severity of liver injuries and in helping choose the better therapeutic approach (surgical or conservative). Thanks to its short execution time, to its reproducibility and to its allowing the contemporaneous evaluation of intra- and retroperitoneal organs. CT has become the radiological technique of choice in the patients with liver injuries.