Infrarenal vena caval injury following blunt trauma: CT findings

Isolated infrarenal vena caval injury following blunt trauma is rare. In most patients, poor clinical status usually precludes imaging prior to laparotomy. When CT is performed, however, signs that allow a diagnosis of caval injury to be made are (a) retroperitoneal hematoma with paracaval epicenter; (b) irregular vena caval contour; and (c) extravasation of contrast-enhanced blood from the cava.