title: Imaging of penetrating thoracic trauma.
abstract: The management of penetrating chest injuries has evolved significantly over the past few years, with an increasing emphasis on less invasive diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. Only 15% of patients need a therapeutic operative procedure. The challenge is to detect and treat these injuries rapidly while maximizing the use of noninvasive examinations and decreasing costs. The areas potentially at risk for injury include the heart, major vessels, thoracoabdomen, neck, spine, and aerodigestive tract. A review of injuries to these areas, including the use of new diagnostic modalities such as echocardiography and computed tomography (CT) scans, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Florida 33136, USA. sleblang@med.miami.edu
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: LeBlang
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Dolich
mesh_terms: D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004452:Echocardiography; D004947:Esophagus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000175:diagnosis*