Perirenal fat infiltration by hemorrhage: radiographic recognition and CT confirmation

In a review of the abdominal radiographs of 82 patients with renal trauma and hemorrhage, perirenal fat infiltration occurred in 12 and was manifested by a streaked and mottled density of the fat envelope. Computed tomographic studies confirmed that the radiographic changes resulted from blood penetrating the fat and coating the inner surface of the renal fascia. Although perirenal fat infiltration by hemorrhage is an uncommon finding in renal laceration, it may serve as confirmatory evidence when other diagnostic signs are present.