title: [Imaging of blunt chest trauma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Blunt chest trauma is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Consequently, all patients should be evaluated radiologically after blunt chest trauma to allow timely and appropriate treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Conventional chest radiographs and computed tomography (CT) are proven modalities with which to evaluate patients after blunt chest trauma.
  Over the last several years extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (eFAST) has gained increasing importance for the initial assessment of seriously injured patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the acute phase of severely injured patients eFAST examinations are helpful to exclude pneumothorax, hemothorax and hemopericardium. Chest radiographs may also be used to diagnose a pneumothorax or hemothorax; however, the sensitivity is limited and CT is the diagnostic modality of choice to evaluate severely injured patients.
authors.affiliation: Univ.-Klinik für Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin, Medizinische Universität Wien, Allgemeines Krankenhaus, Währingergürtel 18-22, 1090, Wien, Österreich, helmut.prosch@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Prosch
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Negrin
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*