Multidetector Computed Tomography of Iatrogenic Urinary Trauma - Pictorial Review

Abdomino-pelvic interventional and surgical procedures can result in iatrogenic urinary tract injury. Radiological diagnosis can be difficult to establish because findings are caused by iatrogenic trauma, and by underlying disease and therapeutical procedures. We performed multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in patients with suspected urinary tract trauma with scanning protocol selected according to the suspected type of injury: non-enhanced scanning for detection of fluid collections, MDCT angiography for renal parenchymal and vascular changes, MDCT urography for pelvicalyceal and ureteric injuries, and MDCT cystography for bladder and urethral lesions. The injuries were found after urologic, general surgical and gynaecological/obstetric procedures. Renal parenchymal injuries were caused by blunt (extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy) or penetrating trauma (renal biopsy), with formation of subcapsular, perinephric and/or paranephric haematomas. Renal vascular pedicle changes after kidney transplantation were precisely defined using MDCT angiography. MDCT urography depicted leakage of contrast material from the pelvicalyceal system after nephron-sparing surgery, from the ureter after kidney transplantation, and from bladder tear after caesarean section, while urethral injury after bladder catheterization was diagnosed using MDCT cystography. MDCT angiography and/or MDCT urography present methods for evaluation of iatrogenic urinary tract trauma because they enable fast and accurate diagnosis and planning of surgical and interventional procedures.