Hemoretroperitoneum associated with liver bare area injuries: CT evaluation

In hepatic injury restricted to the postero-superior region of segment VII (bare area), hemoperitoneum may be absent and this condition may be associated with hemoretroperitoneum. The aim of this paper is to present the association between bare area injuries and hemoretroperitoneum evaluated by CT....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European radiology 2002-04, Vol.12 (4), p.765-769
Main Authors: Miele, V, Andreoli, C, De Cicco, M L, Adami, L, David, V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abdomen
Hematoma
Hemoperitoneum - diagnostic imaging
Hemorrhage - diagnostic imaging
Humans
Injuries
Liver
Liver - injuries
Medical imaging
Patients
Retroperitoneal Space - diagnostic imaging
Retrospective Studies
Tomography
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Trauma
Wounds, Nonpenetrating - diagnostic imaging
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Summary:In hepatic injury restricted to the postero-superior region of segment VII (bare area), hemoperitoneum may be absent and this condition may be associated with hemoretroperitoneum. The aim of this paper is to present the association between bare area injuries and hemoretroperitoneum evaluated by CT. The CT examinations of 32 patients with blunt liver trauma were reviewed and the number and location of lesions were evaluated. Right lobe involvement was identified, focusing on the bare area lesions. The presence of hemoperitoneum and hemoretroperitoneum were determined. In the 32 patients 44 parenchymal lesions were detected. Segment VII was involved in 16 cases: 5 patients presented an intraparenchymal lesion, 11 patients a lesion emerging to the liver surface. In 8 cases the lesion was localized in the bare area. In the 16 patients presenting a segment-VII lesion, hemoperitoneum was detected in 3 cases, hemoretroperitoneum in 4 cases, and both conditions in 4 cases. A traumatic hepatic lesion may be associated with hemoretroperitoneum rather than hemoperitoneum. This justifies the absence of clinical signals of peritoneal irritation; the negativity of both US scan and peritoneal lavage may cause an inappropriate therapeutic management. Computed tomography yields both the detection of the parenchymal damage and the correct localization of the intraperitoneal and retroperitoneal hemorrhage.
ISSN:0938-7994
1432-1084
DOI:10.1007/s003300101137