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Case #1
1/265
Demographics: 59 years old, Male
Indication: Trauma

Case #1

Findings

Chest

  • Small lower anterior mediastinal hematoma without active extravasation
  • Trace right pneumothorax
  • Mild contusion in the anterior aspect of the left upper lobe
  • Mild dependent bilateral lower lobe atelectasis
  • Small hiatal hernia

Abdomen/Pelvis

  • Hepatic laceration involving segments 2/3 measuring 4.4 cm in greatest span. No extension to the hilum or evidence of active hemorrhage
  • Moderate volume hemoperitoneum, particularly concentrated about the liver and in the right paracolic gutter
  • Stranding in the right ileocolic and left colic mesentery with areas of associated contrast density which change in size and appearance on delayed images

MSK

Diagnosis

Hepatic laceration

Mesenteric injuries with active hemorrhage

Mediastinal hematoma

Traumatic lumbar hernia

Sample Report

Traumatic hematomas in the right ileocolic and left colic mesenteries with evidence of active hemorrhage at both locations.

Grade 3 hepatic laceration in segments 2/3 with moderate volume hemoperitoneum.

Acute left lumbar hernia with herniation of abdominal fat through the defect.

Acute fractures through the right costal cartilage and xiphoid process with a small lower mediastinal hematoma. No direct evidence of acute aortic injury.

Acute nondisplaced fractures of the right lateral third and fourth ribs with a tiny right pneumothorax.

Acute minimally displaced fracture of the anterior superior corner of the L4 vertebral body.

Partially imaged intramuscular hematoma in the left sternocleidomastoid muscle.

Discussion

  • Hepatic injuries can be classified using the AAST system, as shown in the table below. While including the classification of injuries is not always important, it is important to generate reports that will be meaningful to your referring surgeons.
  • Any time you see a laceration or hematoma, make sure to compare closely between arterial and delayed phases for signs of arterial injury including hemorrhage (should get larger and less poorly defined on delayed phase) and pseudoaneurysm (should remain similar in appearance on delayed phase)
  • When you see a laceration that extends to or near the hepatic hilum, make sure to look for biliary complications which can include:
    • Hemorrhage into a bile duct causing obstruction - look for regional intrahepatic duct dilation
    • Bile leak, which will initially look like nonloculated low density fluid, but will progress to a biloma over time
  • This case also shows a good example of a traumatic lumbar hernia, as shown in an annotated image below. While rare, these indicate severe shearing forces and can unfortunately easily be missed by clinicians and radiologists in polytrauma cases

AAST Liver Injury Scale

Grade Laceration Subcapsular hematoma Parenchymal hematoma Major vascular injury
I < 1 cm in depth < 10% of the hepatic surface area None None
II 1-3 cm in depth 10-50% of the hepatic surface area < 10 cm in diameter None
III > 3 cm in depth > 50% of the hepatic surface area, Expanding, Ruptured > 10 cm in diameter, Expanding, Ruptured Active bleeding confined within the liver
IV Disruption of 25-75% of a lobe (or 1-3 segments of a lobe) Any Any Active bleeding extending beyond the liver
V Disruption of > 75% of a lobe (or > 3 segments of a lobe) Any Any Juxtahepatic venous injury (IVC or central hepatic veins)
VI Any Any Any Avulsion of the hepatic hilum

Annotated Images & Illustrations

Red outline: hepatic laceration in segment 4 measuring greater than 3 cm in depth.

Red outline: hepatic laceration in segment 4 measuring greater than 3 cm in depth.

Xiphoid process fracture (red arrow) and subjacent mediastinal hematoma (yellow arrow).

Xiphoid process fracture (red arrow) and subjacent mediastinal hematoma (yellow arrow).

Traumatic herniation of the abdominal wall musculature from the left iliac crest (red arrow) compared to the normal appearance on the right (green arrow).

Traumatic herniation of the abdominal wall musculature from the left iliac crest (red arrow) compared to the normal appearance on the right (green arrow).

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