Traumatic lacerations of the aorta and great vessels with a normal mediastinum at radiography.
The possibility of a "normal" mediastinum at conventional chest radiography in a patient with a lacerated aorta or great vessel from blunt thoracic trauma has not been evaluated objectively. All 1991 members of the Society of Thoracic Radiology were sent a questionnaire asking for examples of such cases. A similar questionnaire was placed in the newsletter of the Society of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology. The literature also was reviewed for cases. Seventy-eight of 327 questionnaires were returned with responses. Eight responders reported 12 examples of a normal mediastinum radiograph in a patient with a lacerated aorta. Review of the same radiographs by the authors yielded three normal and nine subtly abnormal mediastina. One additional normal radiograph was obtained of a patient with a lacerated great vessel. Another 16 cases of lacerated aortae (n = 12) and great vessels (n = 4) in patients with normal mediastina were found through a literature search; images from three of these were reviewed by the authors. Although this is an infrequent event, the mediastinum can be normal at plain chest radiography with traumatic lacerations of the aorta and great vessels.
Cohen
A M
AM
Department of Radiology, Case Western University, Cleveland, OH.
Crass
J R
JR
D006801:Humans; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012016:Reference Values; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*