Free reference — 99+ guides, IR playbooks, wRVU tracking, and more in RadCall Pro. Start 14-day free trial
Trauma Updated 2026-04

Abdominal Solid Organ Trauma — AAST Liver, Spleen, Renal, and Pancreatic Injury Grading

AAST injury grading for liver (Grades I–VI), spleen (Grades I–V), kidney (Grades I–V), and pancreas (Grades I–V) on CT: laceration depth, vascular injury, active hemorrhage, and structured reporting checklists.

Quick summary

Grade the injury by laceration depth, hematoma size, and vascular involvement. Advance one grade for multiple injuries (liver, spleen) up to Grade III. Active arterial blush at any grade = IR consultation regardless of grade. Grade IV–V injuries often require embolization or surgery; Grade I–III are usually managed nonoperatively with serial imaging.

Advance one grade for multiple injuries up to Grade III (liver and spleen). Advance one grade for bilateral injuries up to Grade III (renal).

Liver Injury — AAST Grading

Grade Findings
I Subcapsular hematoma <10% surface area; capsular laceration <1 cm depth
II Subcapsular hematoma 10–50% surface area; intraparenchymal hematoma <10 cm; laceration 1–3 cm depth, <10 cm length
III Subcapsular hematoma >50% or expanding; ruptured subcapsular or intraparenchymal hematoma; intraparenchymal >10 cm or expanding; laceration >3 cm depth
IV Laceration with parenchymal disruption 25–75% of hepatic lobe or 1–3 Couinaud segments in a single lobe
V Laceration >75% of lobe or >3 Couinaud segments; juxtahepatic venous injuries (retrohepatic IVC / central major hepatic veins)
VI Hepatic avulsion

Liver Reporting Checklist

Splenic Injury — AAST Grading

Grade Findings
I Subcapsular hematoma <10% surface area; capsular laceration <1 cm depth
II Subcapsular hematoma 10–50%; intraparenchymal hematoma <5 cm; laceration 1–3 cm depth, not involving trabecular vessels
III Subcapsular hematoma >50% or expanding; ruptured subcapsular or intraparenchymal hematoma ≥5 cm or expanding; laceration >3 cm depth or involving trabecular vessels
IV Laceration involving segmental or hilar vessels → major devascularization (>25% of spleen)
V Completely shattered spleen; hilar vascular injury devascularizing the spleen

Splenic Reporting Checklist

Renal Injury — AAST Grading

Grade Findings
I Contusion (microscopic/gross hematuria, normal urologic studies) or nonexpanding subcapsular hematoma; no parenchymal laceration
II Nonexpanding perirenal hematoma; laceration <1.0 cm cortical depth — no collecting system rupture
III Laceration >1.0 cm cortical depth — no collecting system rupture
IV Laceration through cortex, medulla, and collecting system; main renal artery or vein injury with contained hemorrhage
V Shattered kidney; hilar avulsion devascularizing the kidney

Advance one grade for bilateral renal injuries up to Grade III.

Renal Reporting Checklist

Pancreatic Injury — AAST Grading

Advance one grade for multiple pancreatic injuries up to Grade III. Proximal pancreas = to the patient's right of the superior mesenteric vein.

Grade Findings
I Minor contusion or superficial laceration — no duct injury
II Major contusion or laceration — no duct injury, no tissue loss
III Distal transection or parenchymal injury with duct injury
IV Proximal transection or parenchymal injury involving the ampulla
V Massive disruption of the pancreatic head

Key CT signs: peripancreatic fluid / stranding · parenchymal laceration (low-attenuation line) · ductal injury suggested by complete transection or peripancreatic fluid tracking along duct · MRCP or ERCP for definitive duct assessment. Grade III–V injuries typically require surgery or endoscopic intervention.

Pancreatic Reporting Checklist

References

Radiopaedia — Pancreatic trauma


More in RadCall 99+ guides, IR procedure playbooks, systematic search patterns, case logging, and wRVU tracking — all in one place.
Start free trial ›