ABDOMINAL-WALL HEMATOMA MIMICKING VISCERAL INJURY - THE ROLE OF CT SCANNING

Four patients are presented who were thought to have sustained viscera l injury following blunt abdominal trauma. However, CT demonstrated ab dominal wall haematomata and allowed nonoperative management. Similari ty between the clinical findings in visceral injury and abdominal wall haematoma ran lend to diagnostic difficulty. The cases illustrate the need to consider abdominal wall haematoma as a possible diagnosis in patients with blunt abdominal trauma. The place of CT in making this d iagnosis is highlighted.