Kidney trauma in children:: state of the art medical imaging

Traumatic renal lesions have some particularities in the pediatric age group, especially for anatomic reasons. Imaging is very important for diagnosis and staging. Ultrasonography with Doppler is the first line examination performed in children and frequently allows initial diagnosis. From the Doppler-ultrasonographic results and the type of trauma, renal Computed Tomography (CT) is complementary performed. The association of these imaging techniques allows comprehensive work-up of traumatic renal lesions,and also of associated or pre-existing lesions. Conservative management is the rule in most cases. Interventional imaging techniques are sometimes used for therapeutic care of renal pedicular vascular lesions or lesions of the collecting system. Far from the traumatic event, imaging allows to follow up the morphologic and functional evolution of major renal lesions, in particular lesions of excretory renal ducts.