title: A comparison of thoracic CT and abdominal CT for the identification of thoracic blunt trauma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In light of current trends to limit radiation exposure and costs, as well as increased traffic safety, computed tomography (CT) may have decreasing value for evaluating patients with blunt trauma. The authors examined the utility of chest x-ray and abdominal CT for identifying clinically significant thoracic blunt trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective study, findings on thoracic CT, abdominal CT, and chest x-ray from trauma patients were compared to assess injury prevalence and relevance to treatment outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four hundred forty-four patients were identified, of whom 76% had no findings. Occult findings had significantly lower Injury Severity Scores. All clinically relevant pneumothoraces and most other injuries could be identified without thoracic CT. Two of 3 aortic abnormalities were suspected from chest x-ray.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinically significant injuries can be identified with abdominal CT and chest x-ray, safely allowing reductions in radiation exposure, hospital stays, and costs by limiting the use of thoracic CT.
authors.affiliation: Division of Trauma, Critical Care, Burn and Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Irvine, CA, USA.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pinette
authors.forename: Cristobal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barrios
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: Allen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dolich
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lekawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology