Computed tomography in duodenal rupture due to blunt abdominal trauma

Computed tomography (CT) has become a useful procedure in the evaluation of abdominal trauma, since it is able to detect abnormalities in contour or tissue density of the major abdominal and retroperitoneal organs and spaces. Cases have been reported demonstrating the usefulness of CT in evaluating splenic, renal, and hepatic hematomas, retroperitoneal hemorrhage, spinal injuries, and traumatic diaphragmatic hernia. We describe a patient with traumatic rupture of the duodenum in whom CT played a key role in the diagnosis.