title: Diagnosis and treatment of traumatic pulmonary pseudocysts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traumatic pulmonary pseudocysts (TPPs) are rare sequelae of blunt chest trauma. We present a retrospective review of TPPs observed in our hospital and discuss the diagnosis, treatment, and complications of these unusual lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1991 and 1999, 11 TPPs were diagnosed in 10 patients. None of the lesions was detectable on the chest radiograph obtained on the day of injury. In contrast, computed tomographic scan of the chest always demonstrated the TPPs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In nine cases, spontaneous healing of the lesions was observed. One patient with a large lesion of the left lower lobe developed significant endobronchial bleeding and underwent successful emergency lobectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TPPs are often missed by chest radiography, particularly when it is obtained in the supine position, whereas computed tomographic scan allows the identification of these lesions in all cases. TPPs are self-limiting, benign lesions that usually require no specific therapy. Surgical treatment is indicated in rare instances and only when complications occur.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy. giulio.melloni@hsr.it
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Melloni
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cremona
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ciriaco
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pansera
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carretta
authors.forename: Giampiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Negri
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zannini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003560:Cysts / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D055370:Lung Injury; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*