Chest trauma.
Trauma is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite the advent of specialised trauma centres the outcome of patients who sustain major trauma remains disappointing. Plain radiography and more advanced imaging techniques such as ultrasound, computerised tomography (CT) and angiography, have a major role to play in the early decision making and subsequent management of patients who sustain polytrauma. This article discusses the choice of emergency imaging techniques available in chest trauma for clinicians and radiologists; their evaluation and some of the common pitfalls that may lead to errors of interpretation.
Chan
O
O
Department of Medical Imaging, Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, UK.
Hiorns
M
M
D001011:Aorta / Q000293:injuries; D001027:Aortography; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006406:Hematoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055370:Lung Injury; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010994:Pleura / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011026:Pneumopericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed