Renal fascia: its radiographic importance

The renal fascia, commonly known as Gerota's fascia, is a collagenous connective tissue sheath which separates the perirenal fat from the pararenal fat. It may be visualized radiographically and is helpful in the precise localization of abdominal masses. It is also useful in the diagnosis of perinephric hematomas and abscesses and in distinguishing them from intrarenal or subcapsular hematomas and abscesses. The anatomy of the renal fascia is briefly discussed, and representative cases are presented.