Role of computed tomography scan in evaluating the widened mediastinum.
Thirty-eight blunt trauma patients with a suspicion of thoracic aortic injury were assessed by computed tomography (CT) scan, aortography, and chest x-ray. Twenty-eight of the 38 patients had widened mediastinum by chest x-ray; four of 13 CT scans were abnormal. No patient with a negative CT scan had aortic injury by aortogram. A normal, non-dynamic CT scan of the chest should influence one's decision-making in the need for aortography.
Wilson
D
D
Hahnemann University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102-1192.
Voystock
J F
JF
Sariego
J
J
Kerstein
M D
MD
D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D001027:Aortography; D006406:Hematoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*