Background:

the duodenal hematoma is an infrequent entity, usually of late diagnosis, which should be made according to risk factors, the clinical manifestations and imaging studies.

Objective:

to show different clinical and imaging forms of presentation of duodenal hematoma according to type of imaging study and time of progress.

Cases reports:

three cases of duodenal hematoma diagnosed in different follow up periods are presented. The history of the trauma was not recorded at the beginning in two cases neither considered as a predisposing factor, but the diagnostic research suspected the diagnosis. Vomiting and abdominal pain was seen in all three cases. Anemia, sub-jaundice dye and malaise were present at three months of follow up. Upper acute intestinal occlusive condition was secondary to endoscopic sclera-therapy due to digestive bleeding in the third case. Ultrasound, contrast radiography of the digestive tube and computerized axial tomography showed variations of the pattern depending on the modifications of the hematoma over time. Ultrasound as the first study detected the collection in all cases and was useful in the follow-up. Contrast radiological study was oriented towards the diagnosis and show predominance of regular patterns in case of late diagnosis. The Tomography achieved a greater diagnostic definition.

Conclusions:

for the diagnosis of duodenal hematoma, it is necessary to take into account and think about risk factors, and the proper management of imaging studies in relation to time of progress. Tomography is the examination of choice.

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