Skip to main content
  • 1289 Accesses

Abstract

Each year, approximately 5.8 million people throughout the world die as a result of injuries, accounting for 10% of the world’s deaths [1]. Approximately 25% of these are due to motor vehicle accidents. Imaging plays a key role in the diagnosis of cardiothoracic trauma, whether due to blunt force or penetrating trauma. Chest radiography and either computed tomography (CT) or CT angiography are considered complementary in the work-up of individuals with a high-energy mechanism of injury [2]. If cardiac injury is suspected transthoracic echocardiography is indicated. In patients with a low probability of significant thoracic injury, chest radiography may be sufficient.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. World Health Organization (2010) Injuries and violence: The facts. http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2010/9789241599375_eng.pdf

    Google Scholar 

  2. Chung JH, Cox CW, Mohammed TL et al (2014) ACR appropriateness criteria blunt chest trauma. J Am Coll Radiol 11:345–351.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Azizzadeh A, Valdes J, Miller CC 3rd et al (2011) The utility of intravascular ultrasound compared to angiography in the diagnosis of blunt traumatic aortic injury. J Vasc Surg 53:608–614.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Paul JS, Neideen T, Tutton S et al (2011) Minimal aortic injury after blunt trauma: selective nonoperative management is safe. J Trauma 71:1519–1523.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Gunn ML, Lehnert BE, Lungren RS et al (2014) Minimal aortic injury of the thoracic aorta: imaging appearances and outcome. Emerg Radiol 21:227–233.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Rojas CA, Restrepo CS (2009) Mediastinal hematomas: aortic injury and beyond. J Comput Assist Tomogr 33:218–224.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Nassiri N, Yu A, Statkus N, Gosselin M (2009) Imaging of cardiac herniation in traumatic pericardial rupture. J Thorac Imaging 24:69–72.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Restrepo CS, Gutierrez FR, Marmol-Velez JA (2012) Imaging patients with cardiac trauma. Radiographics 32:633–649.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Fadoo F, Ruiz DE, Dawn SK et al (2004) Helical CT esophagography for the evaluation of suspected esophageal perforation or rupture. AJR Am J Roentgenol 182:1177–1179.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Suarez-Poveda T, Morales-Uribe CH, Sanabria A et al (2014) Diagnostic performance of CT esophagography in patients with suspected esophageal rupture. Emerg Radiol 21:505–510.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Kiser AC, O’Brien SM, Detterbeck FC (2001) Blunt tracheobronchial injuries: treatment and outcomes. Ann Thorac Surg 71:2059–2065.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Kunisch-Hoppe M, Hoppe M, Rauber K et al (2000) Tracheal rupture caused by blunt chest trauma: radiological and clinical features. Eur Radiol 10:480–483.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Wintermark M, Schnyder P, Wicky S (2001) Blunt traumatic rupture of a mainstem bronchus: spiral CT demonstration of the “fallen lung” sign. Eur Radiol 11:409–411.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Brar MS, Bains I, Brunet G et al (2010) Occult pneumothoraces truly occult or simply missed: redux. J Trauma 69:1335–1337.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Hyacinthe AC, Broux C, Francony G et al (2012) Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in the acute assessment of common thoracic lesions after trauma. Chest 141:1177–1183.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Yarmus L, Feller-Kopman D (2012) Pneumothorax in the critically ill patient. Chest 141:1098–1105.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Bastos R, Baisden CE, Harker L, Calhoon JH (2008) Penetrating thoracic trauma. Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 20: 9–25.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Shanmuganathan K, Matsumoto J (2006) Imaging of penetrating chest trauma. Radiol Clin North Am 244:225–238, viii.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Gignon L, Charbit J, Maury C et al (2014) A simple assessment of haemothoraces thickness predicts abundant transfusion: A series of 525 blunt trauma patients. Injury. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2014.08.040 [Epub ahead of print].

    Google Scholar 

  20. Chung JH, Carr RB, Stern EJ (2011) Extrapleural hematomas: imaging appearance, classification, and clinical significance. J Thorac Imaging 26:218–223.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Seitelman E, Arellano JJ, Takabe K et al (2012) Chylothorax after blunt trauma. J Thorac Dis 4:327–330.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Sangster GP, Gonzalez-Beicos A, Carbo AI et al (2007) Blunt traumatic injuries of the lung parenchyma, pleura, thoracic wall, and intrathoracic airways: multidetector computer tomography imaging findings. Emerg Radiol 14:297–310.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Chou YP, Kuo LC, Soo KM et al (2014) The role of repairing lung lacerations during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery evacuations for retained haemothorax caused by blunt chest trauma. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 46:107–111.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Prather AD, Smith TR, Poletto DM et al (2014) Aspiration-related lung diseases. J Thorac Imaging 29:304–309.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Gallardo X, Castaner E, Mata JM et al (2006) Nodular pattern at lung computed tomography in fat embolism syndrome: a helpful finding. J Comput Assist Tomogr 30:254–257.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Koljonen V, Maisniemi K, Virtanen K, Koivikko M (2007) Multi-detector computed tomography demonstrates smoke inhalation injury at early stage. Emerg Radiol 14:113–116.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Ichikado K, Muranaka H, Gushima Y et al (2012) Fibroproliferative changes on high-resolution CT in the acute respiratory distress syndrome predict mortality and ventilator dependency: a prospective observational cohort study. BMJ Open 2:e000545.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Desir A, Ghaye B (2012) CT of blunt diaphragmatic rupture. Radiographics 32:477–498.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Sliker CW (2006) Imaging of diaphragm injuries. Radiol Clin North Am 44:199–211.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Dreizin D, Borja MJ, Danton GH et al (2013) Penetrating diaphragmatic injury: accuracy of 64-section multidetector CT with trajectography. Radiology 268:729–737.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. von Garrel T, Ince A, Junge A et al (2004) The sternal fracture: radiographic analysis of 200 fractures with special reference to concomitant injuries. J Trauma 57:837–844.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Leinicke JA, Elmore L, Freeman BD, Colditz GA (2013) Operative management of rib fractures in the setting of flail chest: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Surg 258:914–921.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Gyftopoulos S, Chitkara M, Bencardino JT (2014) Misses and errors in upper extremity trauma radiographs. AJR Am J Roentgenol 203:477–491.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Brucker PU, Gruen GS, Kaufmann RA (2005) Scapulothoracic dissociation: evaluation and management. Injury 36:1147–1155.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer-Verlag Italia

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Ketai, L., Chiles, C. (2015). Imaging of Thoracic Trauma. In: Hodler, J., von Schulthess, G.K., Kubik-Huch, R.A., Zollikofer, C.L. (eds) Diseases of the Chest and Heart 2015–2018. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-5752-4_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-5752-4_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-5751-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-5752-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics