CT findings of adrenal gland trauma / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To stuay CT findings of adrenal gland trauma(AGT).Methods The CT images of adrenal gland trauma which were found in 1712 patients who had emergency abdominal CT examinations for assessment of blunt force trauma were analyzed restrospectively.Results Among 1712 cases.we identified 29 patients(1.7%)with adrenal gland traumatic lesions.A total of 32 lesions were found.Twenty-six lesions were unilateral(23 right-sided,3 left-sided),and 3 cases were bilateral(6 lesions).Main CT findings were as followed(1)Adrenal hematomas appeared as discrete round or oval masses expanding the adrenal gland in 22 patients with 25 lesions.The lesions were hyperdense or of homogeneous density in plain scan and did not enhance in three-phase contrast-enhanced dynamic scan.The splayed adrenal limbs around hematoma were enhanced significantly as eurvilinear structures.(2)Mild to moderate uniform swelling of gland was shown in 4 cases.(3)Diffuse irregular hemorrhage obliterating the gland was shown in 3 cases.Contrast extravasation was shown in 1 case,which was active bleeding from the broken adrenal gland proven by operation.Associated CT findings included strand-like hemorrhage of the periadrenal fat and posterior pararenal hemorrhage mimicking thickened diaphragmatic crus.The concurrent injuries of ipsilateral thorax or/and abdomen were found in 25 patients.Conclusion The AGT has typical CT findings.Familiarity with characteristic CT findings of adrenal trauma is essential for the radiologist to avoid misdiagnosis.