Evaluation of abdominal trauma by computed tomography.

TLDR

Computed tomography has major advantages over plain radiography, radionuclide imaging, and angiography in assessing trauma‑induced injuries. Computed tomography was used to evaluate 100 patients with abdominal trauma, including 78 blunt, 8 penetrating, and 14 iatrogenic cases. Forty percent of scans were normal, 60% revealed significant injuries, and subsequent surgery and follow‑up confirmed CT’s accuracy with no misguidance of management.

Abstract

Computed tomography (CT) was used in the evaluation of 100 patients suffering abdominal trauma. The type of trauma was blunt in 78 patients, penetrating in eight, and iatrogenic in 14. Forty per cent of cases had normal CT scans, while 60% showed substantial abdominal or retroperitoneal injuries. Surgery, clinical follow-up, and repeated radiologic examinations confirmed the accuracy of CT, and there were no cases in which medical or surgical management was inappropriately guided by CT. A wide variety of injuries was detected, including 19 splenic, eight hepatic, six pancreatic, 13 renal, 13 retroperitoneal or abdominal wall, and one intraperitoneal. CT has major advantages over plain radiography, radionuclide imaging, and angiography in assessment of trauma-induced injuries.