Pedicle injury masquerading as renal contusion: a possible urographic pitfall

Renal vascular pedicle injuries are relatively rare, accounting for 1-5% of renal injuries [1]. Intravenous urography is generally the initial procedure used to assess the severity of renal damage and the need for further evaluation. Non-function of the injured kidney is a characteristic finding of renal pedicle injury on excretory urography [1, 2, 3, 4]. This finding generally necessitates further expeditious evaluation with renal arteriography. Opacification of the pelviureteric system during excretory urography genereally implies that the renal vascular pedicle is intact and a major renal injury does not exist. We report a case of a major renal vascular injury associated with excretion of contrast at urography--findings mimicking the radiographic features of renal contusion.