The accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of blunt renal parenchymal trauma was compared with that of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography (US) in a prospective study of 12 patients. CT was superior to other methods in identifying and characterising the renal parenchymal lesion, and both CT and US exceeded low field MRI in recognising a perirenal fluid collection. The role of high field MRI in the evaluation of blunt renal trauma requires further study.