Radiologic clinics of North America
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This article focuses on the clinical role of high resolution computed tomography (CT) in the initial diagnosis and management of hemodynamically stable patients with blunt hepatic trauma. The increased utilization and diagnostic confidence afforded by CT has dramatically changed the surgical approach and need for laparatomy. The most important development has been the growing realization by many trauma surgeons that nonoperative management is often successful in stable patients who have CT evidence of isolated blunt hepatic trauma.