title: Pulmonary contusion: CT vs plain radiograms.
abstract: In experimentally induced pulmonary contusions, CT (n = 27) and chest X-ray (n = 24) findings were compared with the findings at autopsy. Twenty-seven of 27 (100%) pulmonary contusions were visible by CT immediately after trauma compared with 9 of 24 (37.5%) in the chest X-ray. After 30 min follow-up, 18 of 24 (75%) lesions were seen on the plain film. Five of 24 (21%) contusions escaped detection on conventional radiographs. Computed tomography underestimated lesion size in 5 of 60 (8%) measurements, conventional radiographs in 21 of 36 (58%) measurements. Pathological examination never revealed a pulmonary contusion that was not demonstrated by CT. Therefore, pulmonary contusion seems unlikely in a trauma patient with normal pulmonary CT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Mainz Medical School, F.R.G.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Schild
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Strunk
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stoerkel
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Doll
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hein
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weitz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003288:Contusions / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004285:Dogs; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055370:Lung Injury; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed