title: Use of multidetector computed tomography to guide management of pneumothorax.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pneumothorax, a potentially life-threatening condition, is present in about one-third of chest trauma patients. Traditionally, pneumothorax has been diagnosed and managed by use of chest radiography, which has been found inaccurate and inconsistent. With the ubiquitous application of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in emergency care, MDCT quantification of pneumothoraces becomes an emerging technique for accurate determination of the size of pneumothoraces. The use of MDCT quantification provides a promising means to improve pneumothorax management.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recent studies have demonstrated that MDCT is the gold standard for detecting pneumothorax and MDCT provides an effective imaging modality for the accurate measurement of the volume of pneumothoraces. The use of MDCT volumetric quantification of pneumothoraces has been evidenced in the improvement of performance in pneumothorax management for clinically stable chest trauma patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MDCT volumetric quantification of pneumothoraces is a new concept in the care of chest trauma patients and has the potential to improve pneumothorax management. Further clinical studies are needed to establish a MDCT-based clinical guideline for pneumothorax management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. Cai.Wenli@mgh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Wenli
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Moya
mesh_terms: D015505:Chest Tubes; D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods