title: Second-generation sonographic contrast agents in the evaluation of renal trauma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to define the indications, diagnostic accuracy and limitations of second-generation sonographic contrast agents in the evaluation of patients with renal trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between March 2004 and April 2005, 277 patients with blunt abdominal trauma were evaluated. Twenty-eight out of 277 patients had renal lesions, the severity of which was graded according to the organ injury severity scale of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST). All the patients enrolled in the study had minor trauma and were evaluated with baseline ultrasound (US), contrast-enhanced US after injection of a second-generation contrast agent (SonoVue) and, if positive, with multiphasic multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five out of 28 traumatic parenchymal lesions with perirenal fluid collection were identified at baseline US. All 28 renal parenchymal lesions, with or without perirenal or retroperitoneal haematoma, were identified at contrast-enhanced US. Multiphase MDCT confirmed all the cases that were positive at contrast-enhanced US and demonstrated the integrity of the urinary tract in the delayed phase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our experience confirmed the diagnostic accuracy of second-generation sonographic contrast material both for diagnosis and for appropriate patient management. In particular, contrast-enhanced sonography proved to be a reliable technique for the evaluation and follow-up of low-grade renal injuries. Its main advantage is reduced radiation exposure, as fewer MDCT examinations are needed, whereas its limitation is the high cost of the technique if used in unselected patients.
authors.affiliation: Ospedale S. Camillo-Forlanini, Unità di Struttura Complessa di Radiologia, Via C. Gianicolense 87, I-00152 Rome, Italy. g.regine@sirm.org
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Regine
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Atzori
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Miele
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Buffa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galluzzo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luzietti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Adami
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media