Spontaneous perirenal hematoma (SPH) is a clinical entity that poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. We report a case of SPH in an adult where the cause could not be determined at first presentation, even with computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and angiography. He was under close follow-up, and it was only with a repeat CT scan after 3 months that a mass lesion in the kidney was identified as the underlying cause. We also present a review of the literature so that a logical approach can be adopted for this problem.
Copyright 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel