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Pearls and pitfalls of hepatobiliary and splenic trauma: what every trauma radiologist needs to know

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Abstract

With the universal acceptance of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) as the imaging modality of first resort in the assessment of blunt abdominal injury, the trauma radiologist must be able to accurately and rapidly identify the range of CT manifestations of the traumatized abdomen. In this article, we lay out the fundamental principles in CT interpretation of blunt trauma to the hepatobiliary system and spleen, including vascular injury, with a focus on technical and interpretive pearls and pitfalls. This review will help radiologists and trainees become more familiar with key aspects of abdominal CT trauma protocol selection, CT-based solid organ injury grading, and the various appearances and mimics of hepatobiliary and splenic injury.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Emergency Radiology, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA

    Joseph A. Graves, Tarek N. Hanna & Keith D. Herr

  2. Division of Emergency Radiology, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University Midtown Hospital, 550 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA, 30308, USA

    Joseph A. Graves

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Correspondence to Joseph A. Graves.

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No financial disclosures or conflict of interest on behalf of the authors. There was no commercial funding for this study. Drs. Tarek N. Hanna and Keith D. Herr are recipients of the 2017 American Society of Emergency Radiology Educational Grant.

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Graves, J.A., Hanna, T.N. & Herr, K.D. Pearls and pitfalls of hepatobiliary and splenic trauma: what every trauma radiologist needs to know. Emerg Radiol 24, 557–568 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-017-1515-5

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