Renal subcapsular hematoma: a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma

Subcapsular renal hematomas have been found in 14 hypertensive patients between 17 and 66 years old. In 11 patients with chronic lesions hypertension improved more often with nephrectomy (7 of 7 cases) than with a conservative operation (2 of 4 cases). Non-operative management of acute hematoma resulted in radiographic resolution and improvement of hypertension in 3 of 3 patients. Awareness of the clinical features and judicious use of diagnostic modalities enable proper management of subcapsular renal hematomas in most cases.