title: Diaphragmatic injuries after blunt trauma: are they still a challenge? Reviewing CT findings and integrated imaging.
abstract: Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture is a life-threatening injury that may occur in patients with blunt trauma. At present, supine chest radiographs is the initial, most commonly performed imaging test to evaluate a traumatic injury of the thorax. However, computed tomography (CT) is the imaging tool of choice, as it is the 'gold standard' for the detection of diaphragmatic injury after trauma. In particular, recent literature indicates that multidetector CT with multiplanar reformations has significantly improved in accuracy. Radiologists working in the emergency room should keep in mind the possibility of diaphragmatic injuries and should routinely integrate the axial images CT with multiplanar reformations in order to detect any potential, subtle or doubtful sign of incomplete diaphragmatic injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Pineta Grande Medical Center, Via Domiziana Km. 30, Castel Volturno 81030, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bocchini
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guida
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sica
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Codella
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scaglione
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012421:Rupture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media