Spontaneous subcapsular haematoma of the kidney. Report of 6 cases

Spontaneous subcapsular haematoma (SCH) of the kidney is a rare condition, secondary to kidney tumors in more than 50% of cases. Diagnosis is suggested by sonography and confirmed by CT-scan. Renal angiography, performed in haemodynamically stable patients, shows the origin of bleeding and allows embolization. The authors report 6 cases of SCH of the kidney, one of which occured after extra-corporeal shock-wave lithotripsy. © 2002 Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.