Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) is the imaging modality of choice in assessing clinically stable patients with blunt abdominal trauma. This study assessed the role of MSCT in the detection of intra abdominal injury caused by blunt trauma in our centre within a two-year-period (2008-2009). A total of 151 patients had MSCT abdomen for blunt abdominal trauma within this study period. Positive scan were seen in 126 patients (83.4%). Out of these positive scans, liver, spleen and renal injuries were seen in 42.1% (n=53), 34.9% (n=44) and 30.0% (n=34) of cases respectively. Laparotomies were performed in 45 patients. Out of these 45 laparotomies, 10 patients had surgically significant injuries that were missed on CT scan findings. The injuries were bowel perforation (n=4), serosal tear of bowel (n=1), mesenteric injuries with active haemorrhage (n=3), spleen injury (n=1) and liver injury (n=1).

The spleen is one of the organs most frequently injured in blunt abdominal trauma. Computed tomography (CT) scanning can accurately detect splenic injury and is currently the imaging modality of choice in assessing clinically stable patients with blunt abdominal trauma. The CT features of spleen injury include lacerations, subcapsular or parenchymal haematomas, active haemorrhage, and vascular injuries. We present a pictorial review of the spectrum of CT findings for blunt splenic injuries. This article will be a useful reference for radiologists and surgeons as CT scan is widely used for the assessment of splenic injuries and contributes to the current trend towards nonsurgical management of this injury.