Computerized tomographic assessment of retroperitoneal hemorrhage after percutaneous renal biopsy

Computerized tomography demonstrated evidence of retroperitoneal hemorrhage in more than one half (12) of 21 patients who had had renal biopsies. This frequency is much greater than that generally reported and reflects a lack of sensitivity of the routinely followed clinical practices in detecting retroperitoneal hemorrhage. Computerized tomography offers a sensitive, noninvasive method of detecting and evaluating size and site of retroperitoneal hemorrhage.