[Traumatic hematomas of the adrenal glands: CT and US findings in 3 cases]

Traumatic hematomas of the adrenal gland are but little known; they are but seldom discussed in literature, and can be demonstrated only by US and CT due to their small size. These lesions are mostly located on the right side, probably following a direct trauma of the adrenal parenchyma against vertebral bodies, or as a result of the rupture of medullary sinusoids for a sharp rise in pressure into the inferior vena cava, during trauma. Bilateral traumatic hematomas can cause severe adrenal failure, and the healing is slow, without calcifications, and takes several months. Three new cases are reported, unilateral on the right adrenal bed. In 2 patients CT demonstrated a slight parenchymal enlargement after thoraco-abdominal traumas; the patients were young and healthy, and the lesions completely disappeared in some years. US detected a third hematoma in a young woman with suspected metastasis from ovarian carcinoma: CT confirmed the parenchymal swelling, and a percutaneous transhepatic biopsy clarified the diagnosis. Adrenal hematomas are to be reported in order to avoid confusing them with neoplastic lesions, even though only percutaneous biopsy allows a quick and reliable diagnosis.